New Year 2014 at Wat Greensboro

I hope everyone had a good New Year celebration, like every year we went to our local temple Wat Greensboro on New Year’s Day.

The service was held in the Buddha room.

It’s low lighting, so photographing was a challenge.

Lee and my oldest sister gave morning alms.

We offered meal to Phramaha Somsak after the morning alms giving.

Blessing water for the new year.

We normally perform Bungsakoun ceremony (merit making) for our mom on New Year’s day since it’s closed to her death’s anniversary January 7th, but this time we did it on December 28th since some of my sisters couldn’t make it on January 1st.  It has been 7 years since her passing. I’m glad most of us could make it for the ceremony, my sisters and nephews came down from New York for the week. 

Below is cun 5.  It’s 5 pairs of flowers and candles for paying homage to the lord Buddha.

We offered Prakao tip (meal) to my mom, and offered another Prakao tip to the lord Buddha.

I am hopeful that 2014 will be a good year, and wish you all a blessing New Year.

Sok Dee Pee Mai and Happy New Year

Today is the start of the water festival in Laos and Thailand. This is a story told in Laos to explain why Lao people pour water on each other on the New Year in the fifth Lunar month. The story is called Nang Sangkaan.

The origin of the parade of Nang Sangkaan is not Buddhist, but Brahmanism. Later, Lao people changed the tradition, but kept the idea of carrying the Buddha images and respected persons in the procession and pouring water on them. This video was made for 2009 Lao New Year, and originally posted here.

Video by ArnuShawn
Translated and description by Nye Noona
Narrated by Mr. Akkasith
Photo by Siriphone Shields and Kevin Borland

Pee Mai at Wat Greensboro North Carolina 2010

Lao New Year was on April 14-16 and since it was during the work week, the celebration at our local temple was on Sunday April 18, 2010.  We had a good turnout this year and the weather was exceptionally nice.