Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - Traditional festivals - Is the Songkran Festival the New Year of the Dai people?

Is the Songkran Festival the New Year of the Dai people?

Songkran Festival is the New Year of Dai people.

The Yunnan Dai People's Songkran Festival is actually the Dai People's New Year. It is an annual traditional festival of Dai people and one of the most grand traditional festivals in Xishuangbanna. It is usually held in the Gregorian calendar from April 13 to April 15 for three to four days. During the festival, people not only throw water on each other to bless them, but also hold activities such as lighting, flying high in the sky, dragon boat racing, worshipping Buddha, etc. Later, cultural performances and exhibitions were added.

The Origin of Dai Water-splashing Festival

According to the legend of the Water-splashing Festival recorded in the Dai ancient books, the Dai drama "Maha Zhaoshangnong" compiled and performed by Ruili National Culture Team restored the true origin of the Water-splashing Festival. The Emperor of Heaven stole "Zhao Shang Nong" from the mortal world and made human life miserable. The unsuspecting Emperor of Heaven will ask Shangnong to send someone to cure the disaster, which is exactly what Shangnong wants.

After Zhao Shangnong came to the world, he not only did nothing, but acted recklessly. People hate him, but they can't kill him Later, among the seven girls robbed by Zhao Shangnong, the design of "Dragon Weng sotala" learned its fatal weakness from Zhao Shangnong. Sotala, the Dragon Weng, joined other six sisters and finally cut off Zhao Shangnong's head and killed him.

However, after Zhao Shangnong's head fell to the ground, it caught fire everywhere he rolled. In order to avoid the spread of the fire, seven girls took turns to hold Zhao Shangnong's head. When people learned about this situation, they watered the girl's body in turn, year after year. It is precisely because of the heroic behavior of the seven girls that the people got rid of Zhao Shangnong's clutches. Therefore, the Dai people hold a water-splashing festival in mid-April every year to commemorate these seven brave girls.