I should say ‘Souksan Vanh Pee Mai’ or Happy Lao New Year everyone. I told my co-workers that we’re having our Lao New Year next week, and they were very confused, one said that “I thought you just had one.” I just had two (I corrected her), one on January 1st, then another on February 7th for Chinese New Year, this one is Lao New Year, usually celebrate in April.
- Thai New Year Song
Last year I visited a local temple and what I found fascinating were the sand stupas, which are decorated with flags, white lines, and people would splash or pour perfumed water on them and as part of merit making, I donated money to help buy the sand. I asked the local monk about it, and he said that the sand stupas symbolize the mountain of Phoukao Kailat where King Kabinlaphom’s head was kept by his seven daughters (the monk sort of grinned at me because he knew that my dad has eight daughters, he is probably thinking one daughter too many.)
He explained that many of the practices such as pouring water over Buddha images, monks’ hand, or splashing water for festive and fun all came about from the story of King Kabinlaphom. I vaguely remembered the story (read the story of Nang Sangkaan) as to why or how his head got cut off but his severed head was kept in a cave, and his 7 daughters (representing 7 days of the week, I believed) would visit their father’s head every year and perform a ritual for prosperity, and it’s right before the farming season therefore asking for good season of rain as well.
Below are photos of Lao New Year 2007 celebration at Wat Sayaphoum, known for its best Pali school in the city and it’s located in Savannakhet, Laos (photos by Savannakhet at Flickr.) Savannakhet is also where the second Lao-Thai Friendship Mekong Bridge crossing at Savannakhet, Laos and Mukdahan, Thailand.
As for Nang Sangkaan pageant, there are seven contestants; each one represents one of the King Kabinlaphom’s seven daughters.
The water splashing is welcoming because it’s extremely hot in Laos. I believed this is also in Savannakhet, Laos, celebrating Songkran in Lao style, seems like loads of fun.
Sabai Dee Pee Mai, and Happy Lao New Year to all, have fun and stay safe.
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April 6, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Global Voices Online » Laos: New Year
[...] Nye Noona greets everyone “Souksan Vanh Pee Mai” or Happy Lao New Year! The Lao New Year will be [...]
April 9, 2008 at 1:06 am
Nang Sangkaan « Nye Noona
[...] 9, 2008 in Lao Folk, Lao Tradition When I wrote Happy Lao New Year 2008 I vaguely remembered the story as to why or how King Kabinlaphom head got cut off. I heard this [...]
April 9, 2008 at 4:13 am
Sim
This is a great reminder to get ready for the joy of the New Year. We’d collect our Buddha statues from around the house and bring them to the temple where everyone gets to water them. I believe we even cut slices of ginger into the water and use flower bunch to sprinkle the statues. I don’t know why and never ask why.
April 9, 2008 at 6:42 am
Ginger
That’s a great idea Sim, I need to tell my dad about this so he can bring his big Buddha statue to the temple also. As for the ginger, sounds like a cold remedy, must be your family recipe or something.
Souksan Vanh Pee Mai to you and your family Sim.
April 11, 2008 at 2:48 pm
kayyBbyyyy =]
i love laos new years!
WATER FIGHT and SHAVING CREAM
April 11, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Ginger
Hi kayyBbyyyy, thanks for the visit and Sabai Dee Pee Mai to you. When I was little, it was baby power mixed with water, and water fight is loads of fun.
April 12, 2008 at 3:22 am
Salat
Happy Lao New Year Nye and all your readers too.
April is perfect time to mark a new year. Since spring is a time of growth and renewal. A sign that things are in bloom and growing again.
And Sim, the stuff you have mistaken for ginger is actually fresh or powder turmeric (it makes the water turn yellow & smell nice too). They sometimes put them in water “blessed” by the Buddha. Then the Buddha (ajahn) would sprinkle the water on people’s head at the temple while chanting a prayer.
April 12, 2008 at 10:28 am
Ginger
Thank you Salat, and Happy Lao New Year to you and your family also. Now, fresh or turmeric powder makes more sense, and back in the olden day, Lao and Thai women would use this in their baths, and they would rub it on their skin for that golden glow and it’s considered beautiful, I’d imagine Nang Sangkaan in the olden day would have golden glowing skin, it’s not as popular now.
April 13, 2008 at 11:17 am
Happy New Year! « Dharma Folk
[...] for our first post! You may often hear/see this celebration called Songkran in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, Thingyan in Burma and Aluth Avurudhu in Sri Lanka. This new year is also celebrated [...]
April 15, 2008 at 8:04 pm
anouson USA#1
Happy New Year!!!!!!!! Yac geen dom buc hooung!!!!!!!
April 15, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Ginger
Happy Lao New Year Anouson.
September 10, 2008 at 6:23 pm
arrisamone
hae lao pepz jst a big shout outnto the saenbouttarath family godbless every lao peps