Water festivals in Southeast Asia

Songkran

It's April and therefore time for a number of Southeast Asian countries to ceremonially close the year and usher in a new year. In Thailand we know the Songkran Festival for this. The traditional celebrations in temples are less well known than the boisterous playing with water by both Thais and foreigners.

It's almost time, the sun god is already heating the air, although in parts of Thailand this is happening very drastically with high temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius. The call of the sun calls for water, not only in Thailand but also in neighboring countries, which are connected by a “water culture”. The opportunity to experience that water culture in, for example, Luang Prabang, Jinhong, Mandelay or Siem Reap has become very easy due to the many budget airlines. Everywhere people can participate in throwing buckets full of water, dancing and singing and praying for a good start of the new year.

Here are some examples where you can enjoy water and culture in the following week:

Thingyan in Burma (SOMERK WITTHAYANANT / Shutterstock.com)

Mandalay, Myanmar on April 13 – 15

Known as Thingyan, in Myanmar it also involves extreme throwing of water (depending on age) or mild sprinkling of the hands and feet of fellow human beings. In Myanmar, the New Year is welcomed with a week-long celebration all over the country, but the best place to celebrate is Mandalay, where the action and celebrations take place around the city's moat and the walls of the Mandalay Palace. Large and small stages are set up along the roads for people to sing and dance. The colorful processions and parades add a carnival atmosphere.

Luang Prabang, Northern Laos on April 14-16

If the traditional New Year celebration needed a home, it would probably have chosen Luang Prabang – the attractive city on the banks of the Mekong River in northern Laos. Legend has it that King Kabilaprom had seven daughters (known as Nang Sangkharn). However, he lost a challenge to Thammakuman and his punishment was beheading. But a monarch's head should not touch the ground and so his head was placed on a tray and kept on Mount Krailard. Every year the head was carried down the mountain by one of his daughters in a procession for the Sang Klan Long Festival. The legend is then reenacted during Pi-mai Lao (Lao New Year) at a Buddha statue in Prabang, with elderly monks seated on palanquins taking part in the procession. Beautiful local ladies then compete for the title of Queen of Sang Klan.

Also visit the banks of the Mekong on April 14 and admire the thousands of sand stupas. The locals make them to keep the evil spirits away from the New Year's celebration.

Jinhong, Southwest China on April 13 – 16

The water festival is very prominent in Jinhong, as it allows the locals to earn tourist dollars on a daily basis. For about 50 yuan (280 baht), tourists can enjoy throwing buckets of water at the locals – mostly young women in colorful costumes. But the real work comes when the city celebrates the Dai New Year. For three days, the streets and surrounding villages will be completely wet as the locals throw buckets of water, hoses, squirt guns and water-filled balloons at each other. Nobody goes home dry. Also see the cultural shows and dragon boat races from the banks of the Mekong (or Lanchang as it is called by the Chinese).

Sankranta (F. Widjaja / Shutterstock.com)

Siem Reap, Cambodia on April 13-15

Angkor Wat, with its rustic canals, is the almost perfect setting for the water festival. Siem Reap, once the seat and soul of Cambodia's art and culture, celebrates Sankranta. More than 500.000 visitors are expected this year for performances of traditional Khmer arts and games.

Read the full English article in The Nation: www.nationmultimedia.com/travel/A-slashing-good-time-30283382.html