The joy of celebrating the Lao New Year.

(Baonghean.vn) - On the occasion of the Lao New Year, people go to temples to perform rituals, ask for blessings, tie threads around their wrists, and pray for good fortune and blessings. The New Year begins in mid-April, when the dok khun flowers are in full bloom and the weather begins to change from the dry season to the rainy season. People pray for rain, so they make rain in place of their blessings.

Overwhelmed with joy, many exclaimed, "How quickly the three days of the Lao New Year have passed!" The first day was over, the second day was gone, and the third day was bid farewell with a sense of nostalgia. The festivities permeated throughout Laos. From high-ranking leaders to ordinary citizens, everyone celebrated the New Year according to their beliefs and traditions. The Lao New Year is a New Year for everyone and for all. The gestures of wishing each other a happy new year by splashing water on others are based on the belief that the recipient will have a happy, prosperous, and successful year. Therefore, in the new year, Laotians wish each other well by pouring into the streets and splashing water on one another with warm acts of human kindness. That's why the Lao New Year is called "Boun hotnam" – the Water-Splashing Festival.

The following are images captured by VOV's correspondent based in Laos:



Basins of fragrant water infused with dukkhun flowers are used to bathe the Buddha.



Distribute fragrant water to people visiting the temple.



Any statue of a god is bathed.



The atmosphere outside was still lively.



Children bathe in park water fountains to receive blessings.

National Day