April 15, 2012 - New Year Celebrations in Cambodia and Laos

Morencalendars, more New Year’s celebrations! Keep reading; the Lao NewnYear sounds super fun!

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nCambodiannKhmer New Year was a couple of days ago (April 13), but it isncelebrated for several days. Today, the third day, is TngaynLeang Saka,nthe day to bathe statues of Buddha withnperfumed water. People also bathe elderly relatives and get goodnwishes and advice from their elders. Other festivities includencolorful costumes and rituals and performances.

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nCambodianand several other Southeast Asian nations count this new year as 2556nBE (Buddhist Era). But of course many Cambodian people must also usenthe “Western” (Gregorian) calendar, with the year 2012, becausenof international business connections. I suppose keeping track of twoncalendars might be like keeping track of time in several time zones,nas do many people with faraway family or business connections.

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nInnLaos, New Year (Pii Mai) is also celebrated for several days.nToday is the day to return the statues of Buddha to the temples afternbeing ritually cleaned yesterday.

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nWell,nthat sounds very proper, almost boring, but I guess New YearnLao-style is anything but boring!

nIn Vientiane, thencapital city, at least, there is one huge water fight that goes all weekendnlong and encompasses the entire city. People are sprayed and sloshednwith water and splashed with water balloons—even tourists and outsiders!—and Lao revelers even spray each other with talcum powder.

There are casual do-it-yourselfnparades of decorated cars, trucks and “tuk-tuks” driving by,nblaring music and shooting water guns at the crowds, who throw waternright back! People in costumes fling water balloons at the crowd and get doused right back.

nEverything is closed down—even most restaurants—butnhotels and “guest houses” will feed visitors. Tourists are warnednto wear their oldest clothes—the coloring in the talcum powdernmight not come out! They’re also advised to get a dive bag or othernwaterproof bag for cameras, phones, or anything else that might bendamaged from getting wet—because the entire city is one big splashnzone!

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nTonsee how casual the revelry is, check out the top video and the slidenshow near the bottom of this article. Or check out this British tourist trying to stay dry.

nAlsonon this date:

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