Lao ethnics in Dien Bien celebrate water splashing festival
The Lao ethnic minority group in Na Sang 1 village, Dien Bien district, the northern province of Dien Bien, organised the water splashing festival (Bun Huot Nam) from April 14-16.
Scene at the water splashing festival (Photo: VNA)
Dien Bien (VNA) – The Lao ethnic minority group in Na Sang 1 village,Dien Bien district, the northern province of Dien Bien, organised the watersplashing festival (Bun Huot Nam) from April 14-16.
Water splashing is among the rituals held during the traditionalNew Year festival of the Lao ethnic group that lasts from April 14 to 16 everyyear.
The festival is held to say goodbye to dry season, wash offbad lucks and pray for favourable weather, bumper crops, good health and luck.
The shaman and prestigious and elder people in the villagemake prayers, splash fragrant water, and tie threads on wrist on all locals.
The festival also includes a rain praying ritual conductedby voluble women, together with a series of folk games and traditional dance.
A typical feature of the event is a water splashing ritualwhich takes place in a spring in the village.
Luong Sao May, the shaman of Na Sang 1 village, said thatthe water splashing festival is the pride of the Lao ethnic minority group inthe village.
“Through the festival, we wants to promote the culturalidentity of the Lao ethnic minority group in Na Sang 1 village to people in theprovince and across the nation, in order to attract more tourists,” she added.
The water splashing festival was recognised as a nationalintangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism onSeptember 11, 2017.
Na Sang 1 village held a ceremony on April 13 to receive thecertificate recognising the festival as a national intangible culturalheritage.-VNA
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A ceremony was held in Na Sang 1 village, Dien Bien district, the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien on April 13 to grant the certificate of “national intangible cultural heritage” to the water splashing festival of the Lao ethnic minority group.
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Scene at the water splashing festival (Photo: VNA) 
