Water Splashing Festival

The Water Splashing Festival is the new year in the Dai Calendar. It is held on April 13 to 18 once a year. It is similar to Thailand's Songkran, three days of unbridled festivities in which everybody gets doused with water.

The Water Splashing Festival is the grandest ceremonial occasion for the Dai, the De'ang and the Achang nationalities who believe in Theravada Buddhism. It is also known as the Festival for bathing Lord Buddha. The festival is related to the Buddhist legend of dragon sprinkling fragrant showers on Lord Buddha at his birth. The Buddhist legend has gradually been mingled with the customs of the Dai people since their conversion to Buddhism.

At present, the Water Splashing Festival is a traditional festival for the Dai people in Xishuangbanna and other places. On that day, Dai people splash water on each other to celebrate the New Year. Water is the symbol of holiness, goodness and brightness. Dai people regard water as the god of life on which everything depends to live and grow. Water Splashing Festival usually lasts three or four days. People take part in the rowing dragon-boat race, launching Gaosheng (a kind of mini rocket) and fire lamps. Young boys and girls throw colorful pouches to each other for expressing their mutual love. Water splashing is the most exciting of all. People splash water onto each other as a symbol of benediction. The more water one is splashed with, the bigger benediction he receives.

Xishuangbanna, an ancient and mysterious, beautiful and colorful land displays its charisma to you like a green peacock dislaying its fine tail feathers. You will be intoxicated by its sight and nationality customs when you visit.