Lao New Year is a popular English name for a traditional celebration known in Laos as “Pi Mai” or “Songkran” (in Lao language). Lao New Year widely celebrated festival in Laos. It is out with the old and in with the new for many Lao people right now as preparations get underway for the annual fun and festivities of Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year) over April 14-16 according to the ancient Hindu calendar, which falls around April 13, 14, or 15 in the Gregorian calendar and it is seen as a day of rebirth and purification. Pi Mai is arguably the biggest and most important event of the year on the Buddhist calendar in Laos. It is a time of celebration and fun, but also a time for family members to give and receive prayers and blessings for a fortuitous year ahead. The many colorful traditions and rituals that are part of Pi Mai Lao make the three day event one of the most enjoyable and visually stunning expressions of national identity to be found anywhere in the world. In Laos, Lao New Year is a government holiday, with state offices closed during those three days.
According to a Lao legend, the Pi Mai celebration started after Thao Kabinlaphrom lost his life in a bet to a man named Thammaban Khuman. Thao Kabinlaphrom was not able to solve a three-part riddle. Per his request, his seven daughters (representing each day of the week) took great care not to let his severed head touch the ground or there would be great destruction throughout the world. The head was kept at Mt. Sumeru until Pi Mai of each year when each daughter would take turns cleansing it. Today, this story is reenacted during the Lao New Year celebration. The community chooses one female to represent Nang Sangkhan one of the seven sisters, to lead a procession or parade while showcasing a replica of Thao Kabinlaphrom on a ceremonial tray called Khan.
The first day is called Sangkhan Luang ( ສັງຂານລ່ວງ) or the last day of the old year. This is the day when people clean their houses in preparation for the New Year. On this day, people earn merit and blessings by building mounds of sand, usually on the river banks and temple grounds, which are then decorated with small triangular flags, flowers, money and candles. This year 2019 day falls on Sunday, April 14.
The second day is called Sangkhan Nao (ສັງຂານເນົາ), which is the day between the old and the New Year (This day is considered neither to be part of the old year or the New Year). Sangkhan Nao is also known as the day of rest, which means all work is forbidden. Only fun activities should take place such as visiting relatives and friends, taking a day trip or the customary throwing of water on friends and passersby. At night time, there is usually a Lamvong (ລຳວົງ) or circle dancing party and everyone dresses their best to partake in the celebration. Plenty of food and drinks are available well into the night. This year, Sangkhan Nao is only one day long and falls on Monday, April 15th
The third day of the Lao New Year is called Sangkhan Kheun Pi Mai (ສັງຂານຂຶ້ນປີໃໝ່). It is the start of the New Year and is the most joyous day of the festival. People go to the temple and make offerings to gain merit. Young people prepare scented water with flowers and visit their grandparents, parents, and elders. They rinse the elders’ hands with the water and ask for their blessings and forgiveness for any wrong‐doings in the past year. At home they engage in a special family ceremony called the Suukhwan (ສູ່ຂວັນ) or Baci (ບາສີ) to welcome the New Year in which participants then take turns tying the blessed white strings around each other’s wrists to wish them good luck and prosperity for the New Year. For 2019, the Lao New Year day falls on Tuesday, April 16.
Water: is used for washing homes, Buddha images, monks, and soaking friends and passers-by. Students first respectfully pour water on their elders, then monks for blessings of long life and peace, and last of all they throw water at each other. The water is perfumed with flowers or natural perfumes. Some people prefer flowers in the water to give a pleasant smell, as well as adding cologne/perfume. Over the years another tradition has developed with Lao New Year: people will smear or throw cream (shaving cream or whipped cream) or white powder on each other during the celebrations.
Sand: Sand is brought to the temple grounds and is made into stupas or mounds, then decorated before being given to the monks as a way of making merit. There are two ways to make the sand stupas. One way is to go to the beach, and the other way is to bring sand to the vat, or temple. Sand stupas are decorated with flags, flowers, white lines, and splashed with perfumed water. Sand stupas symbolize the mountain, Phoukhao Kailat, where King Kabinlaphrôm’s head was kept by his seven daughters.
Free Animals: Another way to make merit at this time is to set animals free. The Lao believe that even animals need to be free. The most commonly freed animals are tortoises, fish, crabs, birds, eels, and other small animals.
Flowers: Flowers are gathered to decorate Buddha images. In the afternoons people collect fresh flowers. Senior monks take the younger monks to a garden filled with flowers, where they pick flowers and bring back to the Wat to wash. People who didn’t participate in the flower picking bring baskets to wash the flowers so the flowers can shine with the Buddha statues. In the evening Lao people usually go to the temple to worship the Buddhas.
Beauty Pageant: There is an annual beauty pageant in Luang Prabang to crown Miss Pi Mai Lao (Miss Lao New Year). There are many beauty pageants in Laos, but Luang Prabang - the old capital - is widely known for its Nang Sangkhan pageant. There are seven contestants, each one symbolizing one of King Kabinlaphrôm’s seven daughters.
Music and dance: During Lao New Year, there are many spectacles including traditional Lao music and social dancing, molam, and lamvông (circle dancing). During the daytime many people go to the temple to worship, hoping to have a healthier and happier life in the new year. During the evening, people of all ages go to the temple for entertainment.
Greeting: In greetings there are several ways to wish someone a happy Lao New Year. The most common expressions are sôk di pi mai, souksan van pi mai or sabaidi pi mai, which can be translated into English as “Happy New Year”.
Lao New Year takes place at roughly the same time as the new year celebrations of many countries in South Asia like Thailand, India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.
Here is my 1 minute video for Connect Live 2019 application:
Sabaidee Pi Mai everyone!
Photo credit to: Diamond Studio Luangprabang, Anouphon Phomhacksar, NK Oulailux, Lao New Year Fan Page, Lao Tourism Authority, Le Deluxe and Phet Takhoun
