The water splashing Festival, also known as Songkran, Lao Buddhist new year (equivalent to the Spring Festival, China) is Thailand, Kampuchea, Burma and China Dai common holiday. The water splashing festival time is the Gregorian calendar year on 13-15 April (or 14-16) this year, the water splashing festival in April 14, 15, 16 days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday), since 15, 16 for the weekend, so the water splashing Festival holiday arrangements for from April 13th to 17th, on the three day celebration.      
   The people of the water, to wash away the past year flow, bring a new year's good luck. About the origin of the water splashing Festival, there is a legend in Laos: according to legend, in ancient times, the bloodthirsty demon ruled the earth. People want to get rid of him, but they can't think of a good way. She has seven daughters, all beautiful, kind, clever and brave. They are very sympathy and concern people, is also the oppression Huomo severing. Then the Buddha told them to get rid of the demon, must touch a hair on his head, and then use this hair strangle him. After the seven sisters, sister decided to complete this task, because although she is the smallest, the bravest and most agile. One night, while sister Huomo asleep from his head, pulled out a long hair, she reined in his neck. This way the true spirit, the demon horse fell down. Can the demon's head was everywhere roll, he went into flames. The seven sisters are reluctant to bring disaster to people, they took turns holding the demon's head, but also kept at the head of water. So many years have passed, the demon head dry, the flame is also small, finally reduced to ashes. In order to commemorate the severing seven sisters, each year on 13-15 April (or 14-16), people splashing each other in the course of time will form the water splashing festival.

In addition to the legend, from the natural condition, April is the hottest month in Laos. In ancient times, water splashing may also be a cooling ceremony and a fixed ceremony.

The main activities of the water splashing Festival, including bathing, tying, splashing water, sand release, etc.. It is best to feel the water splashing festival in the temple, because it is the most lively and the richest place of Laos.
The first of the ceremony is the buddha. Laos is a Buddhist country, most of the Lao people are Buddhists all over the country have held Buddha ceremony. The first day of the festival, the believers will be prepared in advance of the offerings placed in and around the Buddha statues around, sit down, after the monks began to chant, blessing, but also with a silver tray foot high (sometimes with a golden tray) with petals floating water, with leaves we branch water as the Buddha Bathing, pray for good weather.
After bathing, can be carried out on water activities. The way of splashing water in Laos is slightly different from that in Thailand. In Thailand, the younger generation first poured water into the hands of the elders, and the elders put the water on their hair, and then sprinkled water on their elders to show their blessings. In Laos, the older generation can splash water directly on the head of the elders. When people go to the water, splashing said the blessing, splashing water on each other and then divided the men and women, old and young. If the festival is not spilled during the festival, it is regarded as unlucky and will face disaster in the new year. So, people are always happy to accept others to splash water on themselves. At the same time, the Buddhists also believe that the past year will always be a dirty thing, and water splashing means entering a new year with cleanliness. In addition, young men and women use this festival to make fun of water, learn from each other and celebrate the new year.
Sukwan ceremony on the first day of the year, also known as the "knot soul" ceremony. People on the ground have good matting, placed wreaths, altars, such as the shape of small Buddha, that this can provoke governs the wizard of the universe. We listen to the monks or folded hunkered down people chanting and chanting of noble character and high prestige, edge of mouth read speech, the edges will be tied to the elderly white wrist. Those who sat on the side of the long people were also tied up with white lines, and they held up the elbows of the elders with their hands. Others were holding their elbows, so that they were linked by their elbows to show the blessing of the elderly to everyone. The white line tied to the wrist, at least 3 days later, can be removed.

Sand - pile activities are usually carried out in monasteries. People use sand into 1 - 2 meters high sandcastles and inserted with decorative bamboo spire. The sand should be gently pat on the sand with both hands. Sand, everyone gathered sandcastle and sit, listen to the monks chanting, I wish the coming year weather, people and animals thrive a bumper grain harvest. Some people also pile sandcastle in the floodplain, the square and the like, inserted on the flags flowers, everyone around the tower dance, hope the next grain like piles of hoarding like them

Next is release, on the first day of the new year. Believers have to buy fish, turtles, birds and other small animal, on the outskirts of the Mekong river or, in kindness, and pray for the past ten years in sins forgiven. The Lao special sukwan ceremony. Line is an important ritual blessing, important ceremonies, to greet guests, family travel time should be held in the water splashing festival celebration is a essential part. The more you tie, the more blessings you get.

During the splashing process, people who celebrate at home will prepare food and beer, some will also barbecue on the spot, loudly play music, people will sing and dance, splashing water, eating and drinking, and sometimes will last for a whole day. Some people will drive a pickup truck for several big buckets filled with water in the trunk, pull up a car or a large gun, or hold a Laos called "water bombs" (with plastic bags of colored water sealing) throwing type "arms" of the "armed", and then in the in the city the streets back and forth across the street, there was celebration, will take the initiative to "challenge", each other with water guns or missile attack". The roadside celebrations usually happen to be people who open shop on the street. They organize some friends and relatives, play music, pull pipes to the roadside, ready to attack past vehicles and crowds.