<\/a>You are invited to Lao ultimate party known as Pimay Laos \u2013 Lao New Year.  This three days event fall on the 13th, 14th and 15th of April of every calendar year.  So what do we at New Year\u2019s Day?<\/span><\/p>\n

Traditionally this is the time for spring cleansing.  We cleanse house, clothes, bed, and everything else.  Holy water is used to rinse bad spirit from body, mind and soul. Get rid off those bad omen and misfortune from the previous year. With pure spirit, mind and body combined with good blessing hopefully the coming next will be even proper and in good health.<\/p>\n

As April is hot in Laos so it is refreshing to be doused with water that we also consider as cleansing or purifying element. We use water or performed water to cleanse Buddha images, after they offer alms to the monks and sprinkle of each other during our New Year festival. We believe that with our body clean and our spirit purified we can look forward to a Happy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year.<\/p>\n

Forgiveness is another important aspect of this great event.  Son and daughter will pay homage to parents and elders and tie white strings around each other wrists to say \u201cHappy New Year\u201d.<\/p>\n

Alms giving simple known as takbath are another daily ritual.  Giving is a way of life for every Laotians.  On New Year Day most people go to temple to takbath by giving food monk.  Free live birds or fish is becoming very popular among temple goers.<\/p>\n

Talking of food this is definitely a festive season therefore there are plenty of.  This is also a time to catch with friends.  Party is usually organised at home.  But the mother of all parties is at temple.  What sort of food do we eat at New Year\u2019s Day?  For many people, Larb is just simply another one of famous Lao dishes.  Larb mean luck or fortune.  Larb is a special dish.  Yes, the more you have Larb the more you have good luck and fortune.  Enjoys eating.<\/p>\n

What about entertainment?  This is the place where Laos harvest new generations of artists.  There are stages for pop\/rock, Lum Leung, Lumvomg, Morekhene.  As for me I love enjoy dancing to traditional folk music suck as Kup toom, Kup Xiengkkuaong, Lum Putai, Lum Kornswan, Lum Salavan or Lum Syphandone.  Have a prosperous New Year Every One.<\/p>\n