Water festivals are vibrant celebrations that occur across the globe, often marking the start of a new year or season. These festivals are deeply rooted in cultural and religious traditions, and they showcase the importance of water as a life-giving resource. In Asia, countries like Thailand,[1] Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and the Xishuangbanna Prefecture and Dehong regions of China celebrate their respective new years with lively water festivals such as Songkran, Bunpimay, Thingyan, and Chaul Chnam Thmey. These festivities involve the joyous splashing of water, symbolizing purification and renewal. Beyond Southeast Asia and China, other countries have their own unique water-themed celebrations, from the Holi festival of colors in India to the Water Battle of Spain. These festivals serve as a reminder of the universal significance of water in our lives and our connection to it.
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For most Southeast Asian cultures, the festivities are a part of the broader South and Southeast Asian solar New Year and is called the 'Water Festival' by tourists because they notice people splashing or pouring water at one another as part of the cleansing ritual to welcome the Songkran New Year. Traditionally, people gently sprinkled water on one another as a sign of respect, but as the new year falls during the hottest month in South East Asia, many people end up dousing strangers and passers-by in vehicles in boisterous celebration. The act of pouring water is also a show of blessings and good wishes. It is believed that at this Water Festival, everything old must be thrown away, or it will bring the owner bad luck.[2]
Southeast Asia
The festival is common throughout mainland Southeast Asia and has different names specific to each country, such as Peemai or Songkran (New Year) in Thailand and Laos, Chaul Chnam Thmey in Cambodia, and Thingyan in Myanmar. The Southeast Asian New Year is based on the astrological event of the sun beginning its northward journey. Traditional dance, singing and cultural shows are performed together during the festival. Religious activities in the tradition of Theravada Buddhism are also carried out at both pagoda and monastery. Young people visit elders to pay respect during this period.
In Thailand, Songkran refers to the sun’s annual passing into the Aries constellation, the first sign of the Zodiac, which marks the traditional start of the new year. Occurring in mid-April after the rice harvest, it is a time when people reunite with their families and pay their respects to older adults, ancestors and sacred Buddha images. Pouring water is a significant act during Songkran, symbolizing cleansing, reverence and good fortune. Other activities include bathing important Buddha images, splashing water on family and friends, folk plays, games, music and feasting[3]
The Myanmar New Year Thingyan is announced by the traditional calendar of Myanmar Team and normally falls around 13 April. Cambodia celebrates the Cambodian New Year from 14 to 16 April (ចូលឆ្នាំខ្មែរ or សង្ក្រាន្ត). The Lao New Year, called Songkan (ສົງກຣານ) in the Lao language, is celebrated every year from 13 to 15 April. The Thai New Year or Songkran (สงกรานต์) is fixed every year from 13 to 15 April.
"Water Festival" is often a confusing term for foreigners in Cambodia because the Khmer New Year in April is not normally referred to as "The Water Festival", unlike equivalent new year celebrations in neighbouring countries. Rather, the "Water Festival" in Cambodia usually refers to the festival Bon Om Thook (Khmer:ពិធីបុណ្យអុំទូក) focused on traditional boat racing, which usually takes place in November each year.
List of new years
| Local name festival | Country | Begin | End | Water Festival (Y/N) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pi Mai/Songkran | Laos | 14 April | 16 April | Yes |
| Songkran | Thailand | 13 April | 15 April | Yes |
| Sangken | Arunachal Pradesh, Assam (India) | 14 April | 16 April | Yes |
| Thingyan | Myanmar | 13 April | 16 April | Yes |
| Chaul Chnam Thmey | Cambodia | 14 April | 16 April | Yes |
| Poshuijie | Yunnan (China) | 13 April | 15 April | Yes |
| Pahela Baishakh | Bangladesh, | 14 April | 14 April | No |
| Aluth Avurudda | Sri Lanka | 14 April | 14 April | No |
| Puthandu | India, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, Sri Lanka | 14 April | 14 April | No |
Holi (Festival of Colors)
Origins: Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors or the Spring Festival, is one of the most celebrated and vibrant festivals in Indian culture, with origins tracing back to ancient Hindu traditions. There are multiple origin stories for Holi, two of the most prominent being derived from Hindu mythology:
1. The Story of Holika and Prahlad: The most popular story involves the demon king Hiranyakashipu and his son Prahlad, a devout follower of Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu wanted to eliminate Vishnu's followers, including his own son. His sister, Holika, possessed the power to withstand fire and attempted to kill Prahlad by sitting with him in a fire. However, Holika was burned to death while Prahlad survived due to divine protection. This story symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.
2. Rama and Sita's Story: Holi is also associated with the Indian epic Ramayana, celebrating the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana and the return of Sita. People celebrated their return and victory with colors, marking the origins of Holi as a colorful celebration.
Activities: Holi is usually celebrated around the time of the vernal equinox, typically in mid-March. The festival lasts for two days, with the first evening marked by the lighting of bonfires, symbolizing the burning of winter and evil forces. The main day involves people throwing colored powders and water at each other, creating a vibrant and joyous atmosphere across the community. Families and friends gather to share food, drinks (notably a traditional cannabis-infused beverage called 'bhang'), and sweets. Music and dance are integral to the festivities, with participants setting aside daily concerns to indulge in the celebratory spirit.
Comparison with the Water Throwing Festival
Similarities:
- Both festivals use water as part of the celebrations, symbolizing purification and rejuvenation.
- They are celebrated in spring, marking the renewal of nature and the vitality of life.
- Both emphasize community involvement, focusing on interaction and joy among participants.
Differences:
- Holi is characterized by the use of colored powders, which is unique to the festival, whereas the Water Throwing Festival primarily involves the use of clear water.
- The origins and symbolic meanings of Holi are deeply intertwined with Hindu mythology and cultural traditions, whereas the Water Throwing Festival has varying cultural significance across different countries.
- Holi celebrations include bonfires, singing, dancing, and special foods, while the Water Throwing Festival generally focuses more on water play.
China (Water-Sprinkling Festival)
The annual Water Splashing Festival of the Dai ethnic minority falls during the New Year celebrations of the Dai Calendar. It is the most important festival observed by the Dai ethnic people of Dehong Prefecture, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, and, similar to its direct neighbour Laos' Songkran festival, it involves three days of celebrations that include sincere, yet light-hearted religious rituals that invariably end in merrymaking, where everyone ends up getting splashed, sprayed or doused with water.
The festival lasts for four days. The first two days' activities are concentrated on the banks of the Lancang (Mekong) River. On the first day, a grand celebration marks the beginning of the festival. An outdoor market is set up, where locals go for new year shopping. It is also a great place to purchase local souvenirs. Local food and snacks are other highlights traveller may not want to miss. Artists create sand carvings in open spaces close to the market. A dragon boat race is held on the Lancang River to ring out the old year in the afternoon. At night, the banks of the river are colorfully lit, and locals float river lanterns on the river. Floating river lanterns are an old tradition in China, which is still preserved in many cities today. The practice is thought to drive bad luck away and bring good luck.
On the third day, the climax of the festival is reserved for water splashing. On that day, Dai put on their newest and best clothes, then assemble at the local Buddhist temple, where the monks chant Buddhist scriptures. Afterward, a symbolic water splashing ritual is enacted whereby a Buddhist statue, with pomp and ceremony, is first coaxed out of the temple to the courtyard, then is splashed with water. This important ritual is called 'Bathing the Buddha'.
The completion of the 'Bathing the Buddha' ritual serves as the signal that encourages ordinary mortals to themselves engage in mutual water splashing. Accordingly, people flock to the streets with pots, pans, bottles, or whatever, where they uninhibitedly splash, spray and douse each other with water, with the same gusto with which Westerners engage in a good snowball free-for-all.
The Water Splashing ceremony, however, is more than just good-natured fun; it also contains a religious element: water is regarded by Dai as a symbol, firstly, of religious purity, but also of goodwill among people. Therefore, splashing a fellow human being with water during the Water Splashing Festival, whether a close neighbor or a fellow villager or even a stranger, is an expression of the desire for good luck and prosperity to that person.
In Yunnan province of China, the Water Splashing Festival is celebrated by the Dai ethnic group which is one of the 55 ethnic minorities in China. The whole celebration usually starts on the 13th of April and takes 3–7 days. On the first day of the festival, Dai people race dragon boats and light fireworks (made of bamboo) for good luck in the coming years. On the second day, Dai people get together to dance, and pour water on others because they believe that pouring water on others can help remove bad luck and bring out happiness. Finally, on the last day of the festival, young generations will get together to exchange gifts and date their mates. The Water Splashing Festival is one of the most influential ethnic festivals in Yunnan area. It attracts thousands of tourists every year from all over China. The huge tourist industry contributes greatly to the development of the area.
Safety concerns
During the water festival in Yunnan province of China, many areas had excessive fervor. Some participants ignored safety rules and used high-pressure water guns, ice water, and chemicals for splashing, leading to injuries and even group conflicts. Local traffic order was also severely affected, with a dangerous mix of pedestrians and vehicles. Additionally, excessive celebration leads to noise pollution, which causes widespread dissatisfaction of local residents. These out-of-control phenomena ruined the joyful and harmonious festival atmosphere.
During the Water-Splashing Festival, the existing safety management system came under scrutiny from various sectors of society. On one hand, the current regulations on the safety management of folk activities are rather general and lack specific guidelines for the safe conduct of the Water-Splashing Festival, making it difficult to effectively curb excessive revelry in practice. On the other hand, during the festival, the safety supervision forces in some areas were clearly insufficient, with inadequate patrols and lenient penalties for violations, failing to form an effective deterrent. These issues highlight the shortcomings of the current safety management system in handling large-scale folk activities, urgently calling for improvements and reinforcements.
Regulations
To prevent these safety concerns, governments have published several policies to promote "Civilized Water-Splashing". Local culture and tourism bureaus have taken further steps, such as positioning law enforcement officers at various scenic spots to monitor for any inappropriate behaviors and intervene when necessary.
During water festival, Police officers supervise people's behaviors. When they detect inappropriate behaviors, they will stop their actions which may cause potential dangers. For instance,[4] governments have announced that people should not use unknown concentration of water to splash others, and people cannot splash water to police officers, journalists, children and elders inappropriately. In addition, governments usually block specific districts[5] in order for people to celebrate the festival without traffic problems. These approaches not only aims to curb any uncivilized actions but also provides a point of contact for tourists and participants to report any issues they encounter.
Recent years have witnessed an obvious increase in tourism in Yunnan during the annual Water Festival, driven by heightened global interest in traditional Chinese cultures and targeted promotional efforts. The Water Festival's growing popularity can be attributed to several factors:
Social media influence
Social media plays an important role in advertising the Water Festival in Yunnan Province. During the festival, people share their experiences in the festival on the Internet, and people from all over the world can see what is happening in Yunnan. Those videos are positive and attract a large number of tourists from various places to visit Yunnan and celebrate the festival together.
Governments
To advocate traditional celebrations and improve tourism in Yunnan, Yunnan province’s tourism department contributes efforts to improve tourists’ visiting experience. Governments not only want visitors to celebrate the festival happily, but also ensure people’s safety. In that case, people are encouraged to visit Yunnan and celebrate the festival.
Celebrities
Some celebrities[6] also join the festival and celebrate the festival with visitors, which greatly increases people’s interest and catches people’s attention to the Water Festival. Celebrities contain popularity on the Internet, so that if their behaviors are advertised, the Water Festival is also advertised.
Spain (La Batalla del Agua or The Water Battle)
Origins: "La Batalla del Agua," also known as the Water Battle, is a unique festival celebrated in Lanjarón, Spain. It marks the commencement of the San Juan Festival, which coincides with the Summer Solstice. This festival, deeply rooted in local tradition, celebrates the abundance of water and the onset of summer. The event is specific to Lanjarón, a town renowned for its natural spring waters, making the festival not only a cultural celebration but also a homage to the town's vital water resources.
Activities The Water Battle typically takes place on June 23rd, the eve of Saint John's Day. The festivities begin at midnight and involve residents and visitors engaging in spirited water fights using various implements such as buckets, water guns, hoses, and even water-filled balloons. The streets of Lanjarón transform into lively battlegrounds where participants douse each other with water, symbolizing purification and fun.
The event is accompanied by other festive activities including parades, music, and dancing, culminating in a communal environment filled with joy and excitement. Local bars and restaurants participate actively, hosting visitors and providing respite with traditional foods and drinks.
Comparison with the Water Throwing Festival
Similarities:
- Both festivals prominently feature the use of water, symbolizing cleansing and refreshment.
- Each is held during significant times of the year (spring and summer) that are associated with renewal and community gatherings.
- They foster a sense of community through participatory, inclusive events that are open to all age groups.
Differences:
- La Batalla del Agua is a local tradition of Lanjarón and is closely tied to the celebration of the Summer Solstice, while the Water Throwing Festival is more broadly celebrated across several countries in Southeast Asia as part of the New Year festivities.
- The Spanish festival is primarily a one-night event, focusing on joyous and wild celebrations, whereas the Water Throwing Festival spans several days with a more structured series of rituals and religious significance.
- The context of the celebrations differs; La Batalla del Agua is linked to local identity and the significance of water in Lanjarón, while the Water Throwing Festival has broader themes of purification, renewal, and community blessings across different cultures.
Other similarities
In Vietnam, Lễ hội làm chay is another water festival mainly celebrated in the parts of the Southern Vietnam. It’s only held at January 14-16 of the Vietnamese lunar calendar, different to the one celebrating on April.
During festivals, along the roads, many young people use spray hoses, brasses, and buckets to splash water on passersby. Some groups even used trucks to carry water to splash around in the neighborhood.
In the Philippines, several water festivals are held throughout the country such as the Wattah Wattah Festival in San Juan, Metro Manila, and the Regada Festival in the city of Cavite. It is held in honor of the feast of St. John the Baptist, locally known as San Juan Bautista, every 24th of June. It is a week-long festival that is popular for street parties where water is thrown at revelers.[7]
See also
- Bon Om Thouk - Boat Racing Water Festival in Cambodia
- Cambodian New Year
- Puthandu - Tamil New Year
- Holi - Indian festival of color & water
- Lao New Year
- Myanmar New Year
- Śmigus-dyngus - Polish water festival
- Thai New Year
- Vardavar - Armenia water festival
- Water-Sprinkling Festival
- World New Years
- Wattah Wattah Festival - Philippines water festival
References
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