Yunnan Province is celebrated the Dai ethnic minority which marks the start of the Dai calendar's "New Year". Today (13 April), thousands of people gathered by the Lancang River in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna to release Kongming lanterns, celebrating the Dai New Year of 1386.

Underneath the night sky, the lanterns filled with blessings slowly rose like flickering stars, creating a magnificent scene reminiscent of "the Milky Way descending from the nine heavens".

In Dai language, Kongming lanterns are called "Gongfei". During the Dai New Year Water Splashing Festival, making and releasing Kongming lanterns is a traditional custom representing auspiciousness and blessings. It is a way to pray for good weather and bountiful harvests in the upcoming year.

On 13 April, the celebration ceremony for Xishuangbanna's Dai New Year (2024 Water Splashing Festival) was held in Jinghong City. At 8pm, residents and tourists gathered by Lancang River to release Kongming lanterns as prayers for good fortune. At 6 pm on that day, stalls lined about 1.5 kilometres along Binjiang Avenue at Bai Xiang Beach scenic area, where visitors wandered among various booths selling ethnic costumes, barbecue food, fruits, jewellery and more.

In the square, Dai women dressed in traditional ethnic costumes performing traditional peacock dances. "We perform every once in a while today; we have already done it three times and will have two more tomorrow," said one performer.

At 8pm, the releasing of Kongming lanterns officially began. "We almost come here every year to release Kongming lanterns," said a junior high school student from Xishuangbanna. "This year I will be taking an important exam so I hope everything goes smoothly." She and her friend wrote "Great success in exams" on their Kongming lantern before releasing it together.

Bai Xiang Beach scenic area was crowded with people from all over China. "There is only one day a year when we can release them," said a citizen who sells Kongming lanterns. "I only sell them today too; I bring my child out to take a walk. Many people come here to sell as well."

The Jinghong City Water Splashing Festival Office has issued a notice stating that Kongming lanterns can be released from 8pm to 10pm on 13 April, with all units and individuals prohibited from releasing them at any other time. The designated areas for releasing are the observation platform by the river, Bai Xiang Beach, and areas near Gaozhuang Shuangjing.

At the release site, some partially burnt Kongming lanterns can fall and pose risks. Staff members from the scenic area and Jinghong City Public Security Bureau were present to maintain order. They used long poles to remove any falling lanterns. "There are many people today; we will finish our work when all the tourists leave," said a staff member from the scenic area with a smile.

According to Xishuangbanna's Water Splashing Festival schedule, during the morning of 14 April, there will be a grand ethnic traditional cultural parade on Jinghong City's main streets. It will feature seven performance groups, with 3,500 participants and 19 decorated floats parading through downtown. On 15 April, the water splashing carnival officially begins with major streets in Jinghong City becoming water splashing venues.

Source: Jiu Pai News