Lao people nationwide are excitedly lookingforward to a long holiday during their upcoming New Year festival(called Pi Mai), a time for family reunions, gatherings of friends,and big feasts.

This year’s New Year holiday will extend fromApril 14 to April 17, instead of the traditional April 14-16 period, asagreed by the Lao Government. The people will work on April 11 to makeup for the one-day extension.

Lao people celebrate their NewYear according to the ancient Hindu calendar, which falls around April14, 15 or 16 in the Gregorian calendar. The celebration is considered tobe the most important and biggest traditional festival in the country.

Thefestival, coinciding with the end of the dry season and the start ofthe monsoon season, features a rebirth and purification theme.

Accordingto Lao legend, Pi Mai celebration started after Phaya (King)Kabinlaphom lost his life in a bet to a man named Thammabane Khummanafter he was unable to solve a three-part riddle. Per his request, hisseven daughters (representing each day of the week) took great care notto let his severed head touch the ground, lest there would be greatdestruction throughout the world.

Kabinlaphom’s head was kept at the Kantoumalycave until Pi Mai when each of his daughters took turns cleansing it.

Today, this story is re-enacted during the country’s New Yearcelebrations. The community chooses a female to represent NangSangkhane, one of the seven daughters, to lead a procession or paradeshowcasing a replica of Phaya Kabinlaphom on a ceremonial tray calledKhan.

For 2015, Nang Sang Khane (or Miss Lao New Year) will beselected as Kabinlaphom’s third daughter, known as Harksa. Her dress(mola) is made from silk with a lotus design. Blood will be her food andshe will carry a three-point sword (conveying the message that everyoneneeds to be careful on the road). She will also ride a pig with arrowin her left hand.

Every year, the practice is changed, varying inthe king’s daughters, her dress, food, symbolic weapon, and the animalshe rides.

Pi Mai is a three ‐ day event. The first day,April 14, is called Sangkhane Luang, or the last day of the old year. Onthe day, people clean their houses in preparation for the New Year.They earn merit and blessings by building mounds of sand, usually on theriver banks and temple grounds, which are then decorated with smalltriangular flags, flowers, money and candles.

The second day,on April 15, is called Sangkhane Nao, the day between the old and theNew Year; it is considered neither part of the old year nor the NewYear. Sangkhane Nao is also known as the day of rest and all work isforbidden. Only festive activities are to take place, such as visitingrelatives and friends, taking a day trip or the customary throwing ofwater on friends and passersby.

At night, there is usually aLamvong (Lao traditional dance) or circle dancing party. Everyonedresses their best to partake in the celebration with plenty ofavailable food and drinks.

The third day of the Lao New Yearfestival is called Sangkhane Kheun Pi Mai. It is the start of theNew Year and the most joyous day of the festival. People traditionallygo to the temple and make offerings to earn merit.

Young peopleprepare scented water with flowers and visit their grandparents,parents, and elders. They rinse the elders’ hands with the water and askfor their blessings and forgiveness for any wrong ‐ doings in thepast year.

At home, they engage in a special family ceremonycalled the Sukhwan (Baci ceremony) to welcome the New Year.Participants take turns tying the blessed white strings around eachother’s wrists to wish them good luck and prosperity for the New Year.-VNA/KPL