In memory of seven brave women, the Dai people splash water on each other on this day every year, thus forming a grand festival of the Dai people to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year-the Water Splashing Festival. A long time ago, a demon king came to the Dai area and often went to the stockade to burn, kill and rob. Especially when I saw the beauty of Dai girls, I dragged them one by one and robbed twelve Dai girls. These beautiful and kind Dai girls hate the devil, but there is nothing they can do. One day, one of the most beautiful girls pretended to be obedient and said to the devil with a flattering face, Your Majesty's skill is really great, no one can hurt you, and I can live a good life with you with peace of mind. The devil said comfortably, if someone pulls out my hair and strangles me, my head will fall off! The next day, the girl told other girls about the devil's weakness. Talking about getting rid of this demon king. At night, when the devil was asleep, they came to him, pulled out one of his hair and quickly put it around his neck. Sure enough, the head of the goblin king fell to the ground! The girls were about to clap their hands and cheer when suddenly, the fallen devil caught fire. In order not to let the fire destroy the village, the girls had to hold him in their hands. After a long time, the devil is corrupt and stinks. People rushed to throw water at the girls to wash away the smell left by the devil, and the devil finally turned into a pile of bones. Since then, the Dai people have held a water-splashing festival every year to commemorate these brave and kind Dai girls.
Introduction of Songkran Festival
Songkran Festival is the most influential festival with the largest number of participants in ethnic festivals. For the Dai people, the Water-splashing Festival means a new year, also known as the "Buddha Bathing Festival" and "Sangbi Pulse" in Dai language. The Bulang people also celebrate the Water-splashing Festival, and the De 'ang people who also celebrate the Dai New Year are called "Bathing Buddha and Watering Flowers Festival".
During the Songkran Festival, the solemn Buddha sat among the flowers on the Buddha's bathing platform. The specially invited Buddha leads the young monk to hold a ceremony to see off the old and welcome the new every day, and uses pots of holy water to "bathe for the Buddha" to welcome dust, eliminate evil spirits, eliminate disasters and take refuge for the Buddha, wishing him luck, peace and happiness. People splash pure water on each other, praying to wash away the dust and setbacks of the past year and start over with good wishes in the new year.
Dai girls and boys dressed in holiday costumes, drumming on elephant drums, and dancing with ga guang, sprinkled water at the entrance of the East Gate to welcome tourists. Daizhai and Unity Square will be the main venues for the carnival water splashing activities. Ethnic minority actors put on holiday costumes. When the cheerful rhythm sounded under the command of the host, people began to splash water on each other, and the sound of blessing splashing water was everywhere. The scene is spectacular. "Soaked to the skin, happy for life" means good luck, happiness and health, and people splash in the air.
The ceremony of Songkran Festival
On the day of the Water-splashing Festival, the Dai people will be busy killing chickens and sheep, and then make many rice cakes to eat during the festival. Moreover, the Dai water-splashing festival is not only one day, but three days.
The 1 day of the Songkran Festival is called "Mairi", which is similar to the New Year's Eve of the China lunar calendar. Dai language is called "ten thousand business letters", which means to send the old. On this day, people will clean up their houses, and then prepare for the New Year's Eve dinner, as well as various activities to be held during the festival, such as dragon boat boating and flying high.
The next day is called "angry day", which means emptiness. This day does not belong to last year or next year, but a day between the year before last and this year. This day is the real water splashing day. Whoever throws the most water on him means that this person will get the most happiness this year.
The third day is called "Maipaya Wanma". It is said that Maipaya Wanma's soul will be resurrected with a new calendar, which is equivalent to New Year's Day.