Water-Splashing Festival

　　The Water-Splashing Festival is the most grand festival of the Dai people, and also the festival with the largest influence and the most participants among the ethnic minority festivals in Yunnan. The Water-Splashing Festival is the Dai New Year, which is equivalent to the middle of April in the Gregorian calendar, and the festival usually lasts for 3 to 7 days. The first day is called "Mai Ri" in the Dai language, which is similar to the Lunar New Year's Eve; the second day is called "Nao Ri" (the empty day) in the Dai language; the third day is the New Year, called "Ba Wang Ma", which means the beginning of the year, and people regard this day as the most beautiful and auspicious day. In the early morning of the festival, men, women, the elderly and children of the Dai people put on their festival costumes, carry clean water, first go to the Buddhist temple to bathe the Buddha, and then start splashing water on each other, wishing each other good luck, happiness and health. People dance while shouting "Water! Water! Water!", the sound of drums and gongs resounds through the sky, and the water splashes of blessings fly everywhere, making the scene very spectacular.

　　During the Water-Splashing Festival, Dai young people like to go to the open space in the forest to play the bag-throwing game. The flower bags are made of beautiful printed cloth, filled with cotton paper, cotton seeds, etc., with five flower tassels attached to the four corners and the center. They are tokens of love. Young men and women get to know each other by throwing and catching the bags. When a girl intentionally lets a young man fail to catch the bag and he loses, the young man will give the prepared gift to the girl, and then the two leave the crowd to go to a quiet place to talk about love.

　　Dragon boat races are also held during the Water-Splashing Festival. The races are held on the Lancang River. Groups of dragon boats decorated with red and green, amid the sound of "tang tang tang" gongs, "hi hi hi" shouts and whistles, cut through the waves and forge ahead bravely, attracting thousands of Chinese and foreign tourists to the banks of the Lancang River, adding a lot of tension and joy to the festival.

　　Setting off fireworks (gaosheng) and Kongming lanterns are also unique activities in Dai areas. People set up high shooting frames before the festival. When the time comes, they light the homemade soil rockets and let them scream into the blue sky. The villages where the high shots fly higher and farther make people feel more glorious and auspicious. The winners will also receive awards. At night, people light lamps and candles in the open space of the square, put them into homemade large "balloons", and use the buoyancy of hot air to release the "Kongming lanterns" into the sky to commemorate the ancient sage Kong Ming (Confucius).

　　In addition, releasing river boats, dancing the elephant-foot drum dance and peacock dance, cockfighting, etc., are also activities during the Water-Splashing Festival. In recent years, contents such as folk custom investigation and economic and trade talks have been added, making the activities of the Water-Splashing Festival more colorful. The Water-Splashing Festival is held simultaneously in Xishuangbanna Prefecture and Dehong Prefecture every year. Both places can be reached directly by plane from Kunming. On April 13, 1961, Premier Zhou Enlai participated in the Water-Splashing Festival in Xishuangbanna. Since then, the scale of the Water-Splashing Festival has become larger and larger, and every year thousands of Chinese and foreign tourists regard it as the most unforgettable experience in their lives.

　　Origin of the Water-Splashing Festival

　　The Water-Splashing Festival originated in India. It was once a religious ritual of Hinduism in India, and later absorbed by Buddhism and introduced into the Dai areas of Yunnan via Myanmar, around the end of the 13th century to the beginning of the 14th century, with a history of 700 years. With the increasing influence of Theravada Buddhism in Dai areas, the custom of the Water-Splashing Festival has become increasingly widespread. The Water-Splashing Festival is a celebration of the Dai New Year, usually between April 13th and April 15th in the solar calendar. At that time, people first go to the Buddhist temple to bathe the Buddha, then splash water on each other, expressing sincere blessings with splashing water. There is laughter everywhere, full of festive atmosphere.

　　Another striking activity of the Water-Splashing Festival is dragon boat racing, elephant-foot drum dancing and peacock dancing. It is the third day of the Dai New Year, called "Mai Pa Ya Wan Ma" in the Dai language, when the festive atmosphere reaches its climax. People in festive costumes gather along the banks of the Lancang River and Ruili River to watch the dragon boat races. The Water-Splashing Festival has rich activities, including setting off fireworks (gaosheng), cockfighting, peacock dancing, etc. People are dressed in splendid clothes, full of joy, and the scene is extremely lively.

　　Legends of the Water-Splashing Festival

　　Legend 1: Xishuangbanna Dai legend: In ancient times, there was a devil who did all kinds of evil, and people hated him deeply. They tried many ways but failed to kill him. Later, the devil robbed seven girls to be his wives. The clever seventh girl found out his fatal weakness from the devil's mouth, that is, using the devil's hair to strangle his neck could kill him. While the devil was asleep, the seventh girl pulled out his hair and strangled his neck, and the devil's head rolled off. But as soon as the head fell to the ground, a fire broke out. When the girl picked up the head, the fire went out. To prevent the fire from burning, she and her six sisters took turns holding the devil's head, changing once a year. Every time they change, people splash water on the girl holding the head to wash away the bloodstains on her body, wash away her fatigue of the year, and pray for the ability to eliminate disasters and difficulties in the new year. Since then, the Water-Splashing Festival for seeing off the old and welcoming the new has been formed.

　　Legend 2: It is said that a long time ago, a Dai village living deep in the dense forest by the Jinsha River was in danger of being swallowed by a forest fire. A Dai man named Li Liang, to protect the village, bravely rushed out of the fire net, fetched buckets of river water from the Jinsha River to put out the mountain fire. After a day and night of hard work, the mountain fire was finally put out, and the villagers were saved. Li Liang, however, collapsed on the mountain because he was exhausted and had no more sweat to shed, dying of thirst. The villagers brought clean water to quench Li Liang's thirst, but even after drinking 99 buckets of water, he still couldn't quench his thirst. Later, Li Liang threw himself into the river and turned into a giant dragon, swimming away along the river. Some people say he turned into a big tree. To commemorate Li Liang, the Dai people, on the third day of the third lunar month every year, clean their houses thoroughly, sprinkle pine needles, and set up a green shed half a mile long with green trees by the selected river or well. The shed is covered with thick pine needles, and water tanks filled with water are placed on both sides. At noon when the sun is overhead, people walk through the shed and splash water on each other with pine branches, expressing their memory of Li Liang and their blessings for the new year. This activity has continued to this day and has become the Water-Splashing Festival, a festival for the Dai people to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new and wish for good luck.

　　Legend 3: In ancient times, a demon god named Pengmadalaza disobeyed the will of the gods, did as he pleased, making the world suffer from irregular rain and drought, indistinct cold and heat, withered seedlings, and disasters to people and animals. How to punish this powerful demon? The wise god Yingdati came up with a plan: he disguised himself as a handsome young man, approached the seven daughters of Pengmadialaza, and told them the truth. These seven girls were kind-hearted and had long been indignant at their father's crimes. At this time, they were determined to kill their father to eliminate harm for the world. One day, they finally found out their father's "secret" of life and death, took the opportunity to get him drunk, quietly pulled out one of his hairs, made a bow (called gongsaizai, a bow made with heartstrings), and cut off the devil's head. But the head that rolled to the ground turned into a new disaster, and in an instant, evil fires blazed, bamboo buildings were burned down, and crops were scorched. The seven girls took turns holding the devil's head until it rotted. Every time they took turns, they fetched clean water and splashed it on each other to remove the filth. The bold actions and achievements of the seven sisters in destroying their relatives for justice were warmly praised by people all over the world. Deep memory turned into eternal respect. To commemorate Mahapeng's restoration of the laws of wind, rain, cold and heat and making them known to the world, people set the day when the head of the devil Pengmadialaza rotted as the day of splashing water. On this day, after bathing the Buddha, people splash clean water on each other to express blessings, hoping for good luck, health and long-term happiness.

　　Activities of the Water-Splashing Festival

　　When the Water-Splashing Festival comes, the Dai people are busy killing pigs, chickens, brewing wine, and making a lot of "haonuosuo" (New Year cakes) and various cakes made of glutinous rice for consumption during the festival.

　　The Water-Splashing Festival lasts for three days. On the first day, there are dragon boat races, fireworks (gaosheng) displays, and cultural performances; on the second day, people splash water; on the third day, young men and women play bag-throwing games and conduct material exchanges.

　　The Water-Splashing Festival is usually held along the scenic Lancang River. When the morning light reddens the "City of Dawn", people of all ethnic groups, dressed in festive costumes, gather here from all directions. At a command, fireworks (gaosheng) soar into the sky, and dragon boats rush to the opposite bank like arrows. At this time, thousands of golden bamboo pipes are played together, and gongs and elephant-foot drums are beaten together. The banks of the Lancang River suddenly become a sea of joy.

　　When the water-splashing just starts, polite Dai girls, while saying blessing words, dip bamboo leaves and branches in the water in the basin and sprinkle them on each other. "When the water splashes, the Dai people go wild". At the climax, people use copper bowls, basins, and even buckets to hold water, and chase each other in the streets and alleys. One can only feel that water is splashed from the front and behind. Everyone is soaked from head to toe, but people are in high spirits, and there is laughter everywhere. After a baptism of water, people form a circle and dance to the accompaniment of gongs and elephant-foot drums, regardless of ethnicity, age, or occupation. When excited, people also burst into cheers of "Water, water, water". Some men dance while drinking, intoxicated, all night long.

　　"Bag-throwing" is the most romantic activity, often a special game for unmarried Dai young people. The "bag" is a token of love, carefully made by Dai girls with printed cloth, filled with cotton seeds, and with colorful tassels attached to the four corners. When throwing bags, men and women stand in rows on the green grass. First, Dai girls throw the bags to young men, who then throw them back to the girls, using this to convey feelings. In this way, the flower bags fly back and forth. Finally, when the emotional exchange reaches a certain level, both sides quietly leave the bag-throwing field and find a quiet place to whisper shoulder to shoulder.

　　At the Water-Splashing Festival, young people carry water and splash it, like silver flowers in full bloom.

　　Customs of the Water-Splashing Festival

　　It is a traditional festival of the Dai, Achang, De'ang, Blang, Wa and other ethnic groups. In the Dai language, the New Year is called "Jingbimai" and the Water-Splashing Festival is called "Hounan". So the Water-Splashing Festival is a symbol of the alternation of the old and new years in the Dai calendar.

　　The Water-Splashing Festival is generally in mid-April of the Gregorian calendar, the sixth month of the Dai calendar, lasting three to five days. The first day is called "Wanduosangli", meaning New Year's Eve; the last day is called "Wanbawanma", meaning "the day when the king of days arrives", which is New Year's Day. The middle day is called "Wannao", meaning "empty day". During the festival, activities such as water-splashing, bag-throwing, dragon boat racing, setting off fireworks (gaosheng), worshipping Buddha, and going to fairs are held.

　　In the early morning of the first day of the festival, people pick flowers and green leaves to offer to the Buddhist temple, and pile sand to build four or five pagodas in the temple. The secular people sit around the pagodas, listening to the monks chanting scriptures, and then carry the Buddha statues to the courtyard. Women of the whole village bring clear water to wash the Buddha statues. After the temple ceremony, young men and women go out to splash water on each other for fun, and thus the mass water-splashing activity begins. People carry water in copper bowls, basins and even buckets, rush out into the streets and alleys, chase and play, splashing water on everyone they meet. People believe that this is auspicious water, water of blessing, which can eliminate disasters and cure diseases. So people splash and pour to their heart's content. Both those who splash water and those who are splashed, although soaked from head to toe, are very happy. One can see water splashes blooming among the crowd, forming rainbows under the sunlight, with laughter everywhere.

　　In addition to water-splashing, there are also mass singing and dancing activities. From the elderly in their seventies and eighties to children in their seven or eight years old, all put on festive costumes and come to the village square. Men, women, the elderly and children form a circle and dance to the rhythm of gongs and elephant-foot drums. Some dance the "Peacock Dance", some dance the "Yulaho", some improvise, singing and dancing, with beautiful movements, distinct rhythms and moving songs. When they are in high spirits, they either burst into cheers of "Water, water, water" or end with the song "Yulaho, Yulaho". Some men dance while drinking, intoxicated, all night long, and even fall drunk on the dance floor.

　　During the festival, dragon boat races are held on the broad Lancang River. Wooden boats are decorated with colored flowers, shaped like dragons, peacocks, big fish, etc. Dozens of young men and women row hard to move forward. The banks are crowded with spectators, and the sound of gongs and cheers resounds through the sky. After the race, the winners come to the rostrum to receive awards and drink celebration wine.

　　At night, villages set off fireworks (gaosheng). These are fireworks made by the Dai people themselves. A bamboo pole several feet long is filled with gunpowder and other ingredients at the root and placed on a high frame made of bamboo. When the fuse is lit, the gunpowder burns, and the bamboo pole shoots into the sky like a rocket, emitting gorgeous fireworks in the air, like clusters of flowers and shining stars, which are dazzling and decorate the festival night sky particularly beautifully. Those who set off the highest fireworks are praised by people and receive rewards.

　　During the Water-Splashing Festival, activities such as bag-throwing are also held. Young men and women seek partners and express their love through bag-throwing.

　　When the Water-Splashing Festival comes, the Dai people are busy killing pigs, chickens, brewing wine, and making a lot of "haonuosuo" (New Year cakes) and various cakes made of glutinous rice for consumption during the festival.

　　The Water-Splashing Festival lasts for three days. On the first day, there are dragon boat races, fireworks (gaosheng) displays, and cultural performances; on the second day, people splash water; on the third day, young men and women play bag-throwing games and conduct material exchanges.

　　The Water-Splashing Festival is usually held along the scenic Lancang River. When the morning light reddens the "City of Dawn", people of all ethnic groups, dressed in festive costumes, gather here from all directions. At a command, fireworks (gaosheng) soar into the sky, and dragon boats rush to the opposite bank like arrows. At this time, thousands of golden bamboo pipes are played together, and gongs and elephant-foot drums are beaten together. The banks of the Lancang River suddenly become a sea of joy.

　　When the water-splashing just starts, polite Dai girls, while saying blessing words, dip bamboo leaves and branches in the water in the basin and sprinkle them on each other. "When the water splashes, the Dai people go wild". At the climax, people use copper bowls, basins, and even buckets to hold water, and chase each other in the streets and alleys. One can only feel that water is splashed from the front and behind. Everyone is soaked from head to toe, but people are in high spirits, and there is laughter everywhere. After a baptism of water, people form a circle and dance to the accompaniment of gongs and elephant-foot drums, regardless of ethnicity, age, or occupation. When excited, people also burst into cheers of "Water, water, water". Some men dance while drinking, intoxicated, all night long.