If March is the flower season in Yunnan, then April will be reserved for the Water-Splashing Festival.
The Water Splashing Festival is a carnival event, a natural festival. The prayers of the Dai people are entrusted and splashing water on each other means washing away diseases and disasters and entering the new year clean. The more you get splashed with water, the more blessings you receive.
It has been hundreds of years since the birth of the Water Splashing Festival. It has been passed down as an ethnic convention, from generation to generation.
On the big day, the older and the young, women and men, all Dai people dress up in holiday clothing.
Women will shoulder the burden of water for Buddha, bathing to pray for blessings. After "Buddha bathing," people will start to splash water on each other for blessing, hoping that diseases and disasters will be washed away by the holy water.
Young men and women, with various vessels holding water, rush to streets and alleys, chase and play. "Water splashed makes Dai people flourish." "Getting wet means happiness got forever." Water sprays in the air, representing luck, happiness and health. People splash water heartily with laughter.
Date: Mid-April, the sixth month in Dai calendar
Location: Xishuangbanna, Dehong etc.
Summary of Water Splashing Festival Activities in Yunnan in 2023
Dai calendar 1385 New Year Festival: Jinghong City
1. April 13, 13:00-16:30, Grand Ceremony Jinghong Riverside Viewing Platform
2. April 13, 13:00-16:30, Traditional Dragon Boat Race, The water area of Lancang River, in front of the riverside viewing platform in Jinghong City
3. April 13, 18:00-22:00, Ethnic Characteristic Sand Pile and Cockfight,Jinghong City Jiaozhuang West double view Binjiang to Rama Island entrance, the south of Manhea
4. April 13, 20:00-22:00, Sky Lantern,
Main venue: Jinghong Riverside Viewing Platform
Sub-venue: Dragon Boat Square, Jinghong City, West Zhaozhuang Shuangjing Binjiang Avenue
5. April 15, 09:00-10:00 "Welcome Holy Water" water drawing ceremony,
Jinghong river intake platform
6. April 15, 11:00-16:00 , "Oriental Carnival" splashing water carnival activity
Water splashing main venue: Jinghong City splashing Square
Splash point: Main street of Jinghong City