Participants perform a traditional ritual of the New Year festival at the ceremony on April 12 (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – The traditional New Year festivalof Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand was celebrated in a ceremony in Ho ChiMinh City on April 12.
The function was organised by the HCM City Unionof Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the municipal chapter of the VietnamBuddhist Sangha, attracting representatives of the consulate generals ofCambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, and the countries’ expatriates in HCMCity.
Sending New Year greetings to the Cambodian,Lao, Myanmar, and Thai peoples, HUFO Chairman Huynh Minh Thien said togetherwith Vietnamese, the people have fought for national independence, promotednational development, and strived for an ASEAN Community of peace, stability,cooperation and prosperity.
The celebration was held with a view to helpinglocal people gain an insight into the four nations’ traditional festival, thusfostering Vietnam’s friendship with the neighbouring countries, he noted.
On behalf of the countries’ consulates, LaoConsul General Somxay Sanam Oune highly valued the organisation of theceremony, considering it as a demonstration of local people’s sentimentstowards their regional peers.
At the event, typical New Year customs ofCambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand were re-enacted such as bathing the Buddhastatue, tying a thread on the wrist, and splashing water.
The ceremony also featured songs and dancesperformed by the countries’ students in HCM City, along with other activitiesto introduce their traditional culture and cuisine.
As part of the event, a week-long photoexhibition will be held to popularise cultural identities, traditional ritualsand New Year festivities of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand.
The countries’ traditional New Year festivaltakes place from around April 14 to 16. It is known as Choul Chnam Thmey inCambodia, Boun Pi Mai in Laos, Thingyan in Myanmar, and Songkran in Thailand.
It is one of their biggest traditional festivalsheld in the transition from the dry to the wet season, an occasion for peopleto visit pagodas and have festivities to pray for luck and happiness.-VNA
VNA
