Water Splashing Festival of Xishuangbanna

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-11-17 10:23

Water Splashing Festival of Xishuangbanna

Date: April 13 -15, 2009

Venue: each county and city of Xishuangbanna Prefecture

Water Splashing Festival is the grandest traditional festival of Dais as well as one of the most influential, largest and grandest festivals among festival celebrations of minority ethnic groups in Yunnan, being developed into a mass carnival now. Also renowned as Dai New Year, Water Splashing Festival is held in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan from April 13 to 15 every year, during the festival, “with water splashing, the Dai people are in happiness”, with the sound of gongs and drums, water spread everywhere, and the scene is magnificent. During the festival, various activities are also held, including cockfight with extreme ethnic features, elephant dancing, peacock dancing, embroidered pouch throwing by young Dai lads and maidens, high-rise fireworks setting off and dragon boat racing and Kongming light (a kind of flying lantern) flying on the Lancang-Mekong River.