The Lao New Year Festival is celebrated annually from April 13 to April 16, similar to the festivals in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand. Known as Pi Mai, it closely resembles the Khmer Traditional New Year, as Lao people engage in merit-making, offering alms at pagodas, bathing Buddha statues, building sand stupas, and giving alms to monks.
As a Buddhist country, Laos determines its traditional New Year according to the Buddhist calendar. The celebration reflects important values such as freshness, prosperity, happiness, and purity.
According to legend, the origin of the Lao New Year dates back to ancient times, beginning with an intellectual contest between Thammabane, a clever farmer who understood the language of birds, and Kabinlaphom, a deity revered by the Lao people as the wisest. Kabinlaphom tested Thammabane with three difficult questions, but with the help of birds, Thammabane found the answers.
As a result, Kabinlaphom had to keep his promise by cutting off his head. Before dying, he instructed his seven daughters—representing the seven days of the week—to carefully safeguard it. Every year during the Lao New Year, the Nang Sangkhan (the seven daughters of Kabinlaphom) ceremonially wash their father’s head to pray for happiness and blessings for the coming year. Before engaging in water splashing, Lao people exchange wishes for prosperity and joy, believing that during this time, the old spirit departs and a new spirit enters.
First Day – Sangkhan Luang
The last day of the old year, also known as “Cleaning Day.” People clean their homes, communities (temples, churches, family altars, etc.), and settle old debts and obligations. These acts symbolize purification before welcoming the New Year. In preparation, people clean Buddha statues in temples and bring flowers, such as jasmine garlands, as offerings.
Second Day – Sangkhan Nao
The transition day between the old and the new year. It is a day of rest and a time to enjoy with family and friends. Celebrations include drumming, water fights, applying powder, and dancing to traditional music.
Third Day – Sangkhan Kheun
This marks the start of the New Year, a more traditional day when everyone visits temples to receive blessings from monks. It is also a day to visit relatives and friends, and to pay respect to elders by performing the auspicious act of sprinkling water on their hands and feet to seek blessings.
Another important practice at each temple is the construction of sand stupas representing Mount Phoukaokailat. This is done in preparation for water-pouring and perfumed-water-sprinkling ceremonies, meant to bring happiness, prosperity, good health, and protection from evil spirits in the New Year.
Like the Khmer New Year, the Lao New Year spans three days of joyful celebration based on Buddhist traditions. The festivities not only showcase the country’s cultural identity to the world but also promote unity and harmony throughout Laos.
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