Water Splashing Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority in Yuanyang County, Honghe
Overview
- Chinese Name: 元阳县傣族泼水节
- English Name: Water Splashing Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority in Yuanyang County, Honghe
- Location: Nansha Town of Yuanyang County, Honghe
- Date: 12th, April
The Yuanyang Dai Water Splashing Festival, in the eyes of the Dai people, is a symbol of holiness, beauty, and brightness. Water is essential for the growth of all things; it is the spirit of life. As the Water Splashing Festival approaches, the Dai families become busy with activities such as slaughtering pigs and chickens, brewing wine, and making many “haoniuosuo” (rice cakes) along with various types of rice dumplings made from glutinous rice to be eaten during the festival.
Time and Place
The Yuanyang Dai Water Splashing Festival takes place on April 12th of the Gregorian calendar, in Nansha Town.
During the event, visitors enjoy ethnic songs and dances, as well as participate in the water-splashing festivities.
Cultural History
Every year on April 12th, the Dai “Water Splashing Festival” is a grand celebration in Yuanyang. In the Dai language, it is called “Lenghe Shanghan,” which translates to “June New Year” or “Dai Lunar New Year.” In fact, the Water Splashing Festival is the Dai New Year, as the Dai lunar calendar starts its new year in June.
As for the origin of the Water Splashing Festival, there is a popular legend: a long time ago, a ruthless demon king occupied the beautiful and rich Xishuangbanna and abducted seven beautiful girls to be his wives. The girls, filled with hatred, plotted to kill the demon king. One night, the youngest girl, Nongxiang, used the best food and wine to get the king drunk, making him reveal his fatal weakness. It turned out that this fearless king was afraid of being strangled by his own hair. The clever girl carefully plucked a red hair from the demon king’s head and used it to strangle his neck. Indeed, the king’s head fell off, turning into a fireball that spread evil flames wherever it rolled. The bamboo houses were burned down, and the crops were scorched. To extinguish the malevolent fire, the girl held the demon king’s head while the other six girls took turns splashing water onto it, finally putting out the evil fire in the sixth month of the Dai calendar. The villagers then began to live a peaceful and prosperous life. From then on, the custom of splashing water during the New Year was established. Now, the tradition of splashing water has become a way for people to express blessings to each other.
At the beginning of the water splashing, polite Dai girls sprinkle water on each other using bamboo leaves and branches dipped in water from a basin while saying blessing words. As the event reaches its peak, people use washbasins and even buckets to hold water, having fun and chasing each other in the streets and alleys. They splash water freely, getting soaked from head to toe, yet everyone is in high spirits, filled with laughter and joy everywhere. After this water cleansing ceremony, people form a circle and dance gracefully accompanied by the sounds of gongs and elephant foot drums, regardless of ethnicity, age, or occupation. During moments of excitement, people cheer “Water, Water, Water!” Some men drink and dance, lost in ecstasy from dusk until dawn.
