The Water Splashing Festival is a traditional festival of the Dai people.

The Water Splashing Festival is the traditional New Year festival of the Dai people in China and is also their grandest festival of the year. In June and July of the Dai calendar (April 13 to 15 of the Gregorian calendar), people gather together, splash water on each other to bless each other, and celebrate the New Year. The Water Splashing Festival is not only a comprehensive stage to showcase the traditional culture of the Dai people, but also an important window for studying the history and culture of the Dai people.

The Water Splashing Festival showcases the Dai people’s rich and colorful water culture, music and dance culture, food culture and clothing culture. During the festival, people wear traditional Dai costumes, sing and dance, and perform traditional art forms such as Zhangha and White Elephant Dance, showing the unique customs and artistic expression of the Dai people. These artistic performances not only help to understand the national characteristics of the Dai people, but also demonstrate their perception of nature, respect for water, and gentle and calm national temperament.

The main features of the Water Splashing Festival:

Water culture: The Water Splashing Festival is a water-themed festival, where people splash water on each other to bless and celebrate the New Year. Water has important symbolic meaning in Dai culture, representing cleanliness, peace and happiness.

Folklore activities: During the Water Splashing Festival, in addition to splashing water, people also perform a series of folk activities, such as worshiping Buddha, racing dragon boats, setting off high-rise towers, lighting Kongming lanterns, etc. These events are diverse and full of fun and celebration.

Crossing national borders: The Water Splashing Festival is not only celebrated in the Dai areas of China, but also in the Dai areas of Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and other countries. This makes the Water Splashing Festival a platform for cross-border cultural exchanges and friendly cooperation.

Dance and music: The Water Splashing Festival is an important occasion to showcase the dance and music culture of the Dai people. People wore traditional costumes and danced Dai dances, accompanied by the playing of traditional musical instruments, showing the unique artistic expression and national characteristics of the Dai people.

Reference for the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-Water Splashing Festival