Have a Splashing New Year!
Southeast Asia | 13-17 Apr 2020

People in Buddhist countries all around Southeast Asia mark the traditional New Year more or less the same way – splashing each other with water! Whether it’s Songkran in Thailand (see Page 48), Thingyan in Myanmar, Boun Pimai in Laos or Choul Chnam Thmey in Cambodia, people celebrate with water battles, music and much dancing. The water rituals are meant to cleanse the body and mind of the previous year’s bad karma. Many people also take the opportunity to perform deeds to make merit, including bathing Buddha images, praying, offering alms to monks, paying respect to elders, parents and teachers, as well as setting free birds, fish and other creatures.

myanmartourism.org, tourismcambodia.com, tourismthaialnd.org, visit-laos.com