Lao people ring in traditional New Year with a splash
People across Laos on April 14 organised activities to celebrate the traditional New Year festival, also known as Bunpimay or Bun Hout Nam (water splashing festival) according to the Buddhist calendar.
Vientiane (VNA) – People across Laos on April 14 organisedactivities to celebrate the traditional New Year fe🔜stival, also known as Bunpimay or Bun Hout Nam (water splashing festival) according to the Buddhistcalendar.
Inthe former royal capital of Luang Prabang, crowds of domestic and foreigntourists flocked to this most attractive tourist destination in Laos. Startingfrom the early afternoon, tens of thousands of people in colorful clothesgathered in the old town area to join in the water splashing festival, one of themost enjoyable and exciting among a series of events traditionally held during the New Year celebrations of Lao ethnic groups. On thestreets, amid lively music, groups of people happily danced, sang, andsplashed water all over each other, with laughter and joy. Although everyone was soaked,they all felt happy because of the belief that the wetter you get, the moreluck you would have. This year's Bunpimay gets underway from April 14-16. In order to revive tourism industry whichhas been severely affected by COVID-19 pandemic, Luang Prabang authorities haveheld a series of activities to attract tourists, lasting from April 11 to April 20.
On April 15, theNang Sangkhane (Miss Lao New Year) procession, one of the activities that attracts many Lao people and tourists during New Year celebrations, will be also held.
This ye🥂ar, Laos targets drawing 1.4 million foreign tourists.💛/.
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At water splashing festival (Photo: VNA) 
