What is the Water Festival?

The Water Splashing Festival, also known as the "Buddha Bathing Festival" and "Lenghe Shanghan", is a traditional festival of the Dai, Achang, Brown, Wa, De'ang, and Thai-speaking ethnic groups and Southeast Asia, where people rise early in the morning to bathe and worship the Buddha in Xishuangbanna, China, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, Cambodia, as well as overseas Thai settlements such as Kowloon City, Hong Kong, and Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, Taiwan, On this day, people in Xishuangbanna in China, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and overseas Thai settlements such as Kowloon City in Hong Kong and Zhonghe District in New Taipei City, Taiwan, wake up early in the morning to bathe and salute the Buddha, and then begin several days of celebrations, during which they throw pure water on each other and pray for the elimination of the past year's misfortunes. The Water Splashing Festival is the New Year of the Dai people, which corresponds to the middle of April in the Gregorian calendar and usually lasts for three to seven days.

The Water Splashing Festival is a comprehensive stage to show the traditional culture of the Dai people, such as water culture, music and dance culture, food culture, dress culture and folk veneration, etc. It is an important window to study the history of the Dai people, and has high academic value. The artistic performances such as Zhangha and White Elephant Dance displayed at the Water Splashing Festival can help to understand the national characteristics of the Dai people, such as their understanding of nature, love of water and respect for Buddha, and gentleness and serenity. At the same time, the Water Splashing Festival is also an important link to strengthen the unity of the people of all ethnic groups in Xishuangbanna, which plays a positive role in promoting the development of social, economic and cultural development of Xishuangbanna and Southeast Asian countries through friendly cooperation and exchanges.

On May 20, 2006, the folklore was approved by the State Council to be included in China's first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.