Lao New Year takes place April 14-16th but in Laos, it lasts for almost two weeks. People start celebrating as early as April 7th and it goes as long as April 19th. I have never seen this kind of a celebration. Water is essential to the Lao New Year. It is thrown at driving vehicles in the streets, poured on friends and family, and also on Bhudda statues in the temple. The water symbolizes renewal because it washes away all the bad things (anger, regret, hardships) from the previous year.
I am so lucky to have partaken in this celebration. I was fortunate to see all the different ways it is celerbated:
1. University-- each workplace will celebrate together. For example, at our univeristy we gave alms in the morning and had a picnic and dance party in the afternoon. Baby powder was rubbed on our faces and water was poured on us. It was good to see the Lao staff relax and enjoy themselves.
2. Students-- each class had their own party and invited teachers to go. We attended year 4.2's party and had a blast. Again water is poured on each person for good luck.
3. Family -- one of our colleagues invited us to her home to observe Lao New Year rituals. I learned about how a special perfumed water is made. Turmerick is grounded and mixed with water, flower, and lemon juice. Then this water is poured on the elders' hand for blessings. I was really happy to see the rituals and traditions of Lao New Year because at this point, all I was seeing was beer lao and partying.
4. City -- during the new year the whole city just shuts down and goes into party mode. Everyone blasts songs from their own stereos, runs water into a kiddie pool, and throws buckets of water onto driving vehicles in the streets. I think this is very dangerous but after understanding that this is the thing, I went along with it and started throwing buckets of water at cars myself. Itecc is also a huge thing. For the first time this year, a 3-day concert was organized at the biggest entertainment center in the city (Itecc). I attended the last day and had a really good time. Sadly, there was a lot of littering due to the lack of trash cans.
1. University-- each workplace will celebrate together. For example, at our univeristy we gave alms in the morning and had a picnic and dance party in the afternoon. Baby powder was rubbed on our faces and water was poured on us. It was good to see the Lao staff relax and enjoy themselves.
2. Students-- each class had their own party and invited teachers to go. We attended year 4.2's party and had a blast. Again water is poured on each person for good luck.
3. Family -- one of our colleagues invited us to her home to observe Lao New Year rituals. I learned about how a special perfumed water is made. Turmerick is grounded and mixed with water, flower, and lemon juice. Then this water is poured on the elders' hand for blessings. I was really happy to see the rituals and traditions of Lao New Year because at this point, all I was seeing was beer lao and partying.
4. City -- during the new year the whole city just shuts down and goes into party mode. Everyone blasts songs from their own stereos, runs water into a kiddie pool, and throws buckets of water onto driving vehicles in the streets. I think this is very dangerous but after understanding that this is the thing, I went along with it and started throwing buckets of water at cars myself. Itecc is also a huge thing. For the first time this year, a 3-day concert was organized at the biggest entertainment center in the city (Itecc). I attended the last day and had a really good time. Sadly, there was a lot of littering due to the lack of trash cans.
Although, I have some concerns about the impactof Lao New Year on the environement (waste of water and abudance of trash from beer cans) I am grateful to all the friends and students who celerbated this special holiday with me.