When is the New Year in Laos?

The Spring Festival in Laos is from April 13 to April 16.

Every April 13-16 is the Songkran Festival in Laos, which is what we used to say, and it is equivalent to the Spring Festival of the China Lunar New Year. During that time, in the streets and alleys, local people prepared vats full of clear water in front of their doors, waiting for the arrival of passing tourists, and then doused the pedestrians on the road with water from their home pipes to pay a New Year call to them.

During the Songkran Festival, local people will go to the temple with flower baskets for worshipping Buddha in the morning to water the jade Buddha in the temple. This kind of ceremony is called bathing Buddha in the local area, and they will also go to the mountains to put water lanterns and sky lanterns at night to pray for peace in the four seasons and family prosperity.

In addition, on the day of the Songkran Festival in Laos, local villagers will also choose the local seven fairies to play in the streets according to the species of animals. This is like a local beauty contest. Each village will send representatives to wear their own local national costumes, show their national characteristics to tourists and publicize the splendid culture of local Buddhism.

The Origin of Gan Song Festival

The Songkran Festival originated in Persia in the 5th century A.D., originally named "Lenghu Opera", also known as "Lenghu Opera". It was introduced from Persia to Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Xishuangbanna in Yunnan via India, which was closely related to the introduction of Hinayana Buddhism.

In these Buddhist countries and regions, during major festivals, people will spontaneously go to temples to fast monks, bring prepared glutinous rice, fruits, lotus flowers, incense sticks and coins to the temples to give alms to monks, and piously accept the confession, chanting and blessing of monks. As New Year's Day, the biggest difference between Gan Song Festival and other festivals is "bathing Buddha".

From the first day of the new year, people will dress up early in the morning and go to the temple to bathe the Buddha with clean water soaked with fragrant flowers and perfume. Then collect the water bathed in the Buddha statue and sprinkle it on yourself, pray for the Buddha, sprinkle it on family and friends, and send them holiday wishes. Over time, the custom of sending blessings during the Songkran Festival continued.

Reference to the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-Laos