Water Splashing Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority in Xishuangbanna
Chinese Name:西双版纳傣族泼水节/浴佛节
English Name: The Water Splashing Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority in Xishuangbanna
The Water Splashing Festival is a traditional and significant event for the Dai people in the Xishuangbanna region of Yunnan Province, China. Celebrated as the New Year for the Dai, this festival symbolizes the farewell to the old year and the welcoming of the new one. The festival generally lasts for three to four days, falling in mid-April, during the sixth month of the Dai calendar, which corresponds with the Buddhist New Year in Southeast Asia. The festival is also known as the “Festival for Bathing the Buddha.”
Festival Activities
During the festival, houses are adorned with colorful decorations, and villagers dress in their best attire. Traditional feasts feature sheep, cows, glutinous rice cakes, rice noodles, and rice wine. The festivities include a variety of entertainment such as:
- Fireworks displays
- Dragon boat racing
- Kongming lantern exhibitions
- Buddha bathing rituals
- Parades and fairs
However, the highlight of the festival is the water-splashing activity.
Festival Schedule
- Eve of the Festival: Fireworks displays and dragon boat racing mark the start of the festival.
- Second Day (Neuter Day): This day is considered neutral, belonging neither to the old nor the new year. People usually stay at home.
- Third Day (New Year’s Day): In the morning, villagers visit temples, build pagoda-shaped sand piles, and pray for good weather and prosperity. In the afternoon, women carry fresh water to cleanse the Buddha statue, seeking blessings, followed by the water-splashing ritual among the people.
Cultural Significance
Water is central to the festival, symbolizing holiness, purity, and the best wishes for the coming year. The act of splashing water on one another is seen as a way to wash away bad luck and bring good fortune. The festival showcases the Dai people’s deep respect for water and their vibrant culture, characterized by music, dance, food, and traditional attire. It also serves as a cultural link between Xishuangbanna and Southeast Asian countries that celebrate similar water festivals.
Legend
The origin of the Water Splashing Festival is rooted in a legend. It is said that a devil once terrorized a Dai village. His seventh wife, who had been abducted from the village, learned his weakness and, along with the other wives, killed him. However, his severed head set the ground ablaze, and the fire could only be extinguished by holding the head. The wives took turns doing this, and each year, during the festival, people would splash water on the woman who had held the head to wash away the blood and fatigue. Over time, this ritual evolved into a joyous celebration to send off the old year and welcome the new, symbolizing the defeat of evil and the hope for a brighter future.
