The Water Splashing Festival is a custom of the Dai ethnic group.
The Water Splashing Festival is the grandest festival of the Dai people, and also the most influential and largest festival among the ethnic minorities in Yunnan. The Water Splashing Festival is the New Year of the Dai people, equivalent to the middle of April in the Gregorian calendar, and usually lasts three to seven days. The first day is called "Mai Day" in Dai language, which is similar to the New Year's Eve in the lunar calendar, the second day is called "Worry Day" in Dai language, and the third day is New Year's Day, which is called "Ba Nyima", which means the first day of the year.
The activities of the Water Festival are rich in content, and others are put on the high rise, cockfighting, peacock dance, etc., people dressed in costume, joyful, the scene is extremely lively. The water-splashing festival showcases artistic performances such as Zhangha and White Elephant Dance, which help to understand the Dai people's sense of nature, love of water and respect for Buddha, and their gentle and calm ethnic identity.
Main Activities of the Water Festival
1, Song and Dance Activities
During the Water Festival, the children of the Dai family, no matter men, women, old and young, put on the costumes characteristic of the Dai people, ****gathered together in the drums of the drums of the Elephant's Foot Drums and Hulusi playing music, dancing and enjoying the festival to its fullest.
2, bathing Buddha
Early in the morning, the Dai children will pick flowers and leaves to the nearest Buddhist temple offerings, by Buddhist disciples to bring water, under the auspices of the main monk for the Buddha to wash the dust, which is both traditional and heavy "bathing Buddha" rituals.
3, throw the bag
The Dai girl with four corners of the cotton seed bag decorated with colorful flowers, will be through the "throw the bag" game, to express their love to their favorite man. This seems to be a bit like our ancient "embroidered ball throwing" feeling.
4. Splashing water
The second day of the festival is called "Worry Day", which is the carnival day of the festival and the climax of the festival. On this day, ten thousand people, located in the center of Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna ten thousand people splash water square, a sea of people, collective mutual splashing began.
Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia - Dai Water Splashing Festival