Dai Ethnic Minority

Men and women indulge themselves in the spree of the Water Splashing Festival

The three- to-four-day Water Splashing Festival is a traditional festival for the Dai people in Xishuangbanna and other places to send off the old and ring in the new, and to wish each other well. Water splashing is featured at this festival as entertainment.

On the eve of the first day of the festival, activities include launching rockets and dragon boat rowing, etc. The second day is known as Neuter Day, which belongs to neither the old nor the new year. On this day, according to the custom, people usually stay at home or go hunting in the mountains.

The third day falls on New Year's day. In the morning, people dress up and go to the temple to worship Buddha. They make three to five pagoda-shaped sand piles over one meter tall and plant eight bamboo twigs on top wrapped in red and green strips. They then sit around the pagodas to listen respectfully to the scripture and historical legends and pray for good weather and many offspring.

In the afternoon, every woman has to carry fresh water to clean the Buddha statue so she might get his blessing. People then splash water on each other to symbolize the blessing, rinsing away sickness and disaster with holy water for a happy life. At night, music accompanied by drumbeats reverberates throughout the villages and people enjoy dancing and singing to their hearts' content.

 De'ang Ethnic Minority

A girl enjoys the fun of the Water Splashing Festival

The Water Splashing Festival practiced by the De'angs, which usually occurs around mid-April, is similar in some ways to that of the Dais. Nearing the festival, people are busy preparing new clothing, rice cakes, water dragons and barrels. The elders gather in the temple and build a small room where the Sakyamuni ceremony worship takes place. Here, the water dragon, carved out of a huge wood block four to five meters long, is erected. It is painted and equipped with grooves.

Girls carry a basin full of water, which flows to the Buddha figure in the small room through the groove. The elder of prestige then carries flowers, which he dips in the water and spreads the water over people to bless them for luck and a good start in the New Year. At this time, people become excited, wishing each other the New Year's greetings. Young people lift barrels over their heads, pouring water on the hands of the elders to bless everybody with a happy life, good health and longevity.

The elders extend their hands and hold water in greeting and blessing the young people. After the ceremony, people form a line behind the elephant-leg drum, streaming on the spring side, riverbank and start singing, dancing, chasing and splashing each other.

The Water Splashing Festival is considered the ceremony the De'angs celebrates in the New Year and an opportunity to scope out their lovers. Sending the bamboo basket is popular among the De'angs. Late at night, boys visit girls and present baskets to them; the most beautiful one is kept for his beloved girl to express his love and to get her feedback.

Hence, every girl can get several baskets, but the final lover is determined at the Water Splashing Festival depending on whose basket the girl will carry. That day, as every girl carries a pretty basket the boys observe the baskets on the girls' backs to see which one belongs to him. When the two lovers meet, they splash water on each other to express their agitation and gladness.

 Achang Ethnic Minority

The Achang ethnic minority celebrates the same Water-Splashing Festival as the Dai ethnic minority. It is also a good opportunity for the youths to choose their lovers. Girls' families often prepare eight delicious dishes to welcome the boys coming to court them. Only when all of the guests have arrived can everyone get seated. One boy has to walk off with a chicken's head from the girl's family under cover and, as punishment, he has to drink wine if the girl discovers the chicken head; otherwise, the girl must drink. If the pilferer is caught on the spot, he will not only be penalized but also teased by girls. After the meal, he has to give money to the girl based on the cost of the dishes without being noticed.