Basic Introduction

Chinese Name: 傣族关门节/进洼
English Name: Guanmen (Closing Door) Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority

The “Closed Door Festival,” known in the Dai language as “Hao Wasa,” is a traditional festival of the Dai ethnic group and other ethnic minorities. It occurs on the 15th day of the ninth month in the Dai calendar (which corresponds to the sixth month of the lunar calendar).

On this day each year, the entire village of the Blang ethnic group honors Buddha by going to the temple to listen to teachings and offer water. Men and women aged 40 and over are required to stay at the temple, while all production activities in the village cease for one day. In the evening, the youth beat drums and dance. Three days later, the temple doors are closed for three months, during which the monks recite scriptures day and night, and no one is allowed to leave the temple.

Name Explanation:

The “Closed Door Festival,” referred to as “Hao Wasa” in the Dai language, means entering the period of the transmission of Buddha’s teachings. It is set for the 15th day of the ninth month in the Dai calendar (mid-June in the lunar calendar). The day marking the end of the three-month period of teaching (which is the 25th day of the twelfth month in the Dai calendar) is known as the Open Door Festival. In the Dai language, the Open Door Festival is called “Ao Wasa,” which means stepping out of the period of transmitting Buddha’s teachings. The day on which the teaching begins is considered a festival and is quite interesting. It is generally believed that the Closed Door Festival and the Open Door Festival originated from the ancient Indian Buddhist practice of retreat during the rainy season, with the three-month closure being viewed as a period of rest and fasting for the faithful.

Religious Festivals:

The Closed Door Festival is a traditional holiday celebrated by the Dai, Blang, De’ang, and some Wa ethnic groups. It occurs on the 15th day of the ninth month in the Dai calendar (mid-June in the lunar calendar). The festival originates from the ancient Indian Buddhist practice of retreat during the rainy season, which is similar to the “Qi Xia” (summer retreat) observed in Central Plains Buddhism.

The Closed Door Festival and the Open Door Festival are religious holidays for the Dai, Blang, Achang, De’ang, and other ethnic groups that follow Theravada Buddhism. The Dai’s Closed Door and Open Door Festivals are especially typical, representative, and rich in religious significance.

Festival Introduction:

The festival originates from the ancient Indian Buddhist practice of retreat during the rainy season, similar to the “Qi Xia” (summer retreat) observed in Central Plains Buddhism. The three months from the Closed Door Festival to the Open Door Festival mark a period of rest and fasting in Theravada Buddhism. During this time, monks reside in monasteries for pure study, receive alms, and are prohibited from going out for leisure. The Dai people have a strong belief in Buddhism, and lay followers often visit monasteries to sit quietly, listen to teachings, and venerate the Buddha with offerings of food, fresh flowers, dried goods, silver coins, or paper money every week. Starting from the Closed Door Festival, Dai families close the doors to love and marriage, dedicating themselves to labor in agriculture, working hard to ensure a good harvest of their main crops for the year.

In the Dai language, it is called “Jin Wa,” meaning “the Buddha enters the temple.” This traditional religious festival of the Dai in Yunnan starts on the 15th day of the ninth month in the Dai calendar (mid-June in the lunar calendar) and lasts for three months. According to legend, in the ninth month of the Dai calendar, the Buddha goes to the West to preach to his mother and does not return to the human realm for three months. During one of these times, while the Buddha was preaching in the West, thousands of his disciples went to the countryside to spread the teachings, which damaged the villagers’ crops and hindered their production. The local people were very dissatisfied, and when the Buddha learned of this, he felt troubled. From then on, whenever the Buddha went to the West to preach, his followers were gathered together and instructed not to go anywhere during these three months, allowing only for repentance to atone for their previous wrongs. Thus, it is called the “Closed Door Festival.”

Once the Closed Door Festival begins, the farming season becomes busy. To focus on production work, people establish numerous regulations, such as prohibiting young men and women from dating or engaging in marriage activities; monks are not allowed to go out freely; those who go to worship the Buddha cannot stay away from their families or spend the night at others’ homes; and no one is allowed to enter the Buddha’s shrine or take anything from it. It is only after three months, during the Open Door Festival, that people return to their normal activities as they were before the Closed Door Festival.

Folk Customs:

On the day of the Closed Door Festival, the Dai villages are filled with a festive atmosphere. Early in the morning, every household is busy steaming colorful glutinous rice and making cakes, preparing offerings for the Buddha or gifts for friends and family, and organizing feasts and communal meals.

During the three months of the Closed Door Festival, visiting temples to listen to teachings from senior monks is a major activity for the community. The content covered by the monks often includes stories of enlightened beings, used to educate the community and inspire them to aspire to Buddhahood. Throughout the three months from the Closed Door Festival to the Open Door Festival, Dai families do not hold weddings, build new houses, or travel far; instead, they concentrate on production, regularly visiting temples to worship and make offerings to the Buddha. Devout elders consciously practice fasting, wearing white clothing and white headscarves, and some even stay overnight in the temple. Every seven days, a worship activity is held during which attendees bring food, wax offerings, and pay homage to the Buddha, listening to the senior monks recite scriptures and explain teachings, precepts, and stories from Buddhist texts.

A significant event, known as “Dan Tan” (offering scriptures), is also held during this period. Upon the completion of the three months of the Closed Door Festival, on the 15th day of the twelfth month in the Dai calendar, celebrations for the Open Door Festival take place. Similar to the Closed Door Festival, worshippers bring paper flowers, wax offerings, flower trees, food, and coins to the temple, holding grand ceremonies of homage to the Buddha and chanting. They also partake in alms meals, communal dining with the monks, and the same lively and joyous atmosphere as the Closed Door Festival. At night, fireworks are set off in the temple, sky lanterns are released, and dances are performed, parading through the villages to celebrate the end of the retreat and signify the transition from the Closed Door period to the Open Door period. After this night, the Dai villages return to their romantic and vibrant daily lives; monks can leave the monastery, followers can travel far, Dai families can build new houses, young men can court young women, and couples can hold weddings.

Purpose of the Festival:

The Dai people’s Closed Door Festival occurs in mid-July, coinciding with the busy agricultural season. The purpose of holding the Closed Door Festival is to prohibit people from going out and to prevent young people from engaging in romantic relationships, allowing them to focus their energies on productive work. During this period, those who follow Buddhism also engage in religious activities—making offerings to the Buddha.

The Closed Door Festival lasts for three months, after which the Open Door Festival arrives (in mid-October). By this time, the busy farming season has passed, allowing people to go out freely, and young people can engage in romantic relationships and marry. After the Open Door Festival, cultural and entertainment activities among the Dai people also increase.

The Introduction of Chuwa Festival and Ganduo Festival

• Chinese Name:傣族出洼节和干朵节
• English Name:  Chuwa Festival and Ganduo Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority

The “Chuwagan Duo Festival,” a religious holiday of the Dai people, takes place in Mangshi, located in the Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture along the China-Myanmar border. Dai people dress in traditional attire and engage in Buddhist rituals under the largest hollow stupa in Asia.

An important aspect of the “Chuwagan Duo Festival” is the worship of the Buddha and listening to teachings from the Great Buddha in the temple. On this day, the area in front of the Menghuan Golden Stupa is flooded with people. Dai families from nearby villages arrive in waves, bringing flowers, fruits, rice, and other offerings, striking the large gongs, and dancing the Ga Yang dance.

This is just the beginning. In addition to the Buddhist activities, performances such as Ga Yang and Ga Guang, Dai boxing, elephant foot drum competitions, and stick martial arts display, as well as various ethnic folk art performances, excite the attendees. During the “Chuwagan Duo Festival,” every Dai person dresses in festive attire, offering the highest tributes and sincere hearts to the Buddha, sincerely repenting for any wrongs committed during the “Chuwagan” period or before, aiming to purify their souls through this act.

The Dai people’s “Chuwagan” is essentially the amalgamation of the summer retreat of Buddhist monks with Dai traditional culture.

Like ancient India, the regions inhabited by the Dai are rice-growing agricultural societies. As Buddhism spread from India to the Dai areas, many customs from ancient India were easily assimilated into Dai culture. Although the summer retreat is a season for Buddhist monks’ cultivation, the Dai people, who wholeheartedly embrace Buddhism, have fully integrated it into their lives. During the “summer retreat,” monks concentrate on their practices while the community focuses on agricultural production, forming a tacit understanding and a customary practice in Dai society. At the onset of summer, the Dai hold a grand ritual to welcome summer (known as “Ruwu”), and at the end of summer, they also hold a grand farewell ceremony (known as “Chuwu”).

The Dai’s “Ruwu” typically occurs on the 15th day of the 9th month in the Dai lunar calendar (mid-June in the lunar calendar), where the local monks gather at temples to chant sutras, while the devotees prepare food, flowers, and paper currency to present at the temple. This marks the commencement of a three-month period of “retreat” and “harvest.” During this time, monks are prohibited from going out to preach, devotees are restricted from traveling, courtship and marriage are not allowed, and large celebratory activities are banned. Monks need to focus on learning, while the community concentrates on agricultural production.

“Chuwu” generally takes place on the 15th day of the 12th month in the Dai lunar calendar (mid-September in the lunar calendar), symbolizing the end of the three-month period of “retreat” and “harvest,” lifting all prohibitions that have been in place since “Ruwu.” On this day, the Dai community dresses in festive attire and brings food, flowers, preserved meat, coins, and other offerings to the temple to worship the Buddha and listen to teachings, as they engage in grand celebratory activities, parading through the villages with lanterns shaped like birds, beasts, fish, and insects, igniting fireworks, lighting sky lanterns, and dancing the elephant foot drum dance among other entertainment activities.

The “Chuwu” celebrations generally last for three days, followed by the “Gandu Festival.” “Gandu” primarily means repentance. During the three-month “Ruwu” period, everyone inevitably commits acts that violate Buddhist precepts, and they seek forgiveness and atonement from the Buddha. Additionally, “Gandu” carries the meaning of celebrating the harvest, as the period after “Chuwu” marks the harvest season.

The Local Activities of Chuwa Festival

1. Ceremonial Offerings: The festival begins with celebrations at local temples, where Dai people bring various offerings such as flowers, fruits, food, and ceremonial paper money to honor the Buddha and the monks.
2. Buddhist Worship: Attendees participate in rituals that include chanting, praying, and listening to teachings from monks. This is a vital aspect of the festival, emphasizing the importance of spirituality.
3. Cultural Performances: The festival features traditional performances that entertain and engage the community. This includes:
   • Ga Yang and Ga Guang Performances: These are traditional dances that reflect Dai culture.
   • Dai Boxing: A form of martial arts that highlights physical skill and cultural heritage.
   • Elephant Foot Drum Dance: A lively dance that incorporates drumming and rhythmic movements, celebrating tradition and community spirit.
4. Parades with Lanterns: Participants often carry lanterns shaped like various animals and natural elements, symbolizing prosperity and good fortune as they parade through the villages.
5. Fireworks and Celebrations: The event is filled with joy, involving fireworks, lighting sky lanterns, and community feasts, creating a festive atmosphere of celebration and togetherness.
6. Community Feasting: After religious ceremonies, families come together for communal meals, showcasing local dishes and fostering a sense of unity and festivity.

The Local Activities of Ganduo Festival 

Following the Chuwa Festival, the Ganduo Festival focuses more on repentance and gratitude related to the agricultural harvest:

1. Repentance Rituals: The core activity of Ganduo is for individuals to seek forgiveness for any misdeeds committed over the previous months. During this time, people sincerely repent for any actions that may have violated Buddhist precepts.
2. Thanksgiving Offerings: Participants express gratitude for the harvest and pray for future prosperity. This may include offering newly harvested rice and other food items to the Buddha.
3. Cultural Festivities: Similar to Chuwa, the Ganduo Festival includes vibrant performances, dancing, and various artistic expressions that celebrate Dai culture and community spirit.
4. Community Gatherings: Families and villagers come together to enjoy traditional foods and participate in games and activities, fostering social bonds and communal joy.
5. Harvest Celebrations: As the agricultural season concludes, the festival serves as a time to celebrate the successes of the harvest, featuring feasts that highlight seasonal produce.
6. Traditional Games and Competitions: During the Ganduo Festival, local games and competitions might be organized, showcasing the community’s talents and providing entertainment for both children and adults.

The Water-Splashing Festival is a traditional festival for the Dai people in the Dehong area of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province in the southwest of China. It is the New Year for the Dai, a festival to send off the old and greet the new. It lasts three or four days.

Held during the sixth month of the Dai calendar, usually falling in mid-April of the Gregorian calendar, the Water Splashing Festival is also known as the Festival for Bathing the Buddha.

During the festival, the door of every house is decorated with multicolored pieces of paper. All the villagers dress in their holiday best. Sheep and cows are slaughtered for feasting, plus delicious glutinous rice cakes, rice noodles, and rice wine. The occasion is marked by a variety of entertainment, including singing and dancing, fireworks displays, boat racing, exhibiting Kongming (air-borne) lanterns, bathing the Buddha, and parades and fairs. But the most popular event is water-splashing.

Origin

The Water Splashing Festival has its roots in ancient agricultural rituals and symbolizes the welcoming of the new year and the arrival of spring. The festival is linked to the Dai people’s deep connection to water, representing purification, renewal, and the hope for a bountiful harvest. Historically, the festival was celebrated to dispel bad luck and evil spirits, to pray for good fortune, health, and prosperity in the coming year.

Local Activities

1. Water Splashing: The most iconic activity of the festival is the water splashing itself. People of all ages participate in this joyful event, where they splash water on each other as a form of blessing and good luck. The water symbolizes the washing away of misfortunes and a fresh start. Participants often use water guns, buckets, or traditional vessels to engage in this playful activity.
2. Traditional Performances: Cultural performances take center stage during the festival. Dai ethnic music, dance, and theatrical plays showcase traditional stories, folk tales, and the rich cultural heritage of the Dai people. Beautifully costumed dancers perform lively pieces, often depicting scenes from daily life or historical events.
3. Religious Ceremonies: The festival may include rituals conducted by local monks or spiritual leaders at temples. These ceremonies can involve offerings and prayers for health, happiness, and good fortune in the coming year.
4. Traditional Food: Local cuisine plays a significant role in the festival. Dai people prepare various traditional dishes, including sticky rice, grilled fish, and fresh fruits. Food stalls are set up, allowing visitors to sample these delicious offerings, further promoting local culinary traditions.
5. Cultural Exhibitions and Games: The festival often features exhibitions of Dai craftsmanship, including handwoven textiles and artisanal handicrafts. Traditional games and competitions, such as tug-of-war or bamboo pole climbing, also take place, engaging both locals and visitors in friendly fun.
6. Festive Decorations: During the festival, streets and homes are adorned with colorful decorations, including flowers and traditional ornaments, creating a festive atmosphere throughout the community.

The Water Splashing Festival not only serves as a significant cultural event for the Dai people but also attracts numerous tourists, fostering cultural exchange and understanding. It is a time of joy, celebration, and community bonding, making it a highlight of the cultural calendar in Dehong.

Chinese Name:西双版纳傣族泼水节/浴佛节
English Name: The Water Splashing Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority in Xishuangbanna

The Water Splashing Festival is a traditional and significant event for the Dai people in the Xishuangbanna region of Yunnan Province, China. Celebrated as the New Year for the Dai, this festival symbolizes the farewell to the old year and the welcoming of the new one. The festival generally lasts for three to four days, falling in mid-April, during the sixth month of the Dai calendar, which corresponds with the Buddhist New Year in Southeast Asia. The festival is also known as the “Festival for Bathing the Buddha.”

Festival Activities

During the festival, houses are adorned with colorful decorations, and villagers dress in their best attire. Traditional feasts feature sheep, cows, glutinous rice cakes, rice noodles, and rice wine. The festivities include a variety of entertainment such as:

• Fireworks displays
• Dragon boat racing
• Kongming lantern exhibitions
• Buddha bathing rituals
• Parades and fairs

However, the highlight of the festival is the water-splashing activity.

Festival Schedule

• Eve of the Festival: Fireworks displays and dragon boat racing mark the start of the festival.
• Second Day (Neuter Day): This day is considered neutral, belonging neither to the old nor the new year. People usually stay at home.
• Third Day (New Year’s Day): In the morning, villagers visit temples, build pagoda-shaped sand piles, and pray for good weather and prosperity. In the afternoon, women carry fresh water to cleanse the Buddha statue, seeking blessings, followed by the water-splashing ritual among the people.

Cultural Significance

Water is central to the festival, symbolizing holiness, purity, and the best wishes for the coming year. The act of splashing water on one another is seen as a way to wash away bad luck and bring good fortune. The festival showcases the Dai people’s deep respect for water and their vibrant culture, characterized by music, dance, food, and traditional attire. It also serves as a cultural link between Xishuangbanna and Southeast Asian countries that celebrate similar water festivals.

Legend

The origin of the Water Splashing Festival is rooted in a legend. It is said that a devil once terrorized a Dai village. His seventh wife, who had been abducted from the village, learned his weakness and, along with the other wives, killed him. However, his severed head set the ground ablaze, and the fire could only be extinguished by holding the head. The wives took turns doing this, and each year, during the festival, people would splash water on the woman who had held the head to wash away the blood and fatigue. Over time, this ritual evolved into a joyous celebration to send off the old year and welcome the new, symbolizing the defeat of evil and the hope for a brighter future.

Chinese Name: 红河州金平县傣族泼水节
English Name: The Water-splashing Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority in Jinping County, Honghe

The Water-splashing Festival is a significant and joyous event celebrated by the Dai ethnic minority in Jinping County, located in Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province. This traditional festival is known for its vibrant and lively activities, where water plays a central role in the celebrations.

Significance

The festival marks the Dai New Year and is held to wash away the misfortunes of the past year and to welcome the new year with happiness and prosperity. It reflects the Dai people’s deep connection with water, which symbolizes purity, blessings, and good luck.

Highlights

• Water-splashing Activities: Participants splash water on each other as a form of blessing and good wishes. This is the highlight of the festival, with everyone joining in the fun and joyous water fight.
• Cultural Performances: Traditional dances, music, and performances by the Dai people showcase their rich cultural heritage and artistic talents.
• Parades and Processions: Colorful parades and processions are held, featuring traditional costumes, cultural displays, and floats.
• Food and Feasts: Local delicacies and traditional Dai foods are prepared and enjoyed by the community and visitors.

Location

Jinping County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China

Timing

The Water-splashing Festival typically takes place in mid-April, coinciding with the Dai New Year celebrations.

The Water-splashing Festival of the Dai ethnic minority in Jinping County, Honghe, is a vibrant and culturally rich event that attracts both locals and tourists. It is an excellent opportunity to experience the unique traditions, hospitality, and joy of the Dai people.

The Water-splashing Carnival is held in Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, featuring the Miao, Yao, and Dai ethnic groups. In the Water-splashing Square of Mengla Town, various ethnic communities gather to dance and sing joyously, using water as a medium of celebration.

On the morning of the 20th, a parade takes place in Jinping County, with around 1,000 representatives, including people from various ethnic groups, teachers, and healthcare workers, dressed in traditional costumes, gracefully dancing. Once the water-splashing activities begin, the crowd participates in a joyful water “battle,” wielding various water-splashing tools. Laughter and cheers fill the air amidst the splashes of water.

As night falls, the Electric Dai Di Carnival kicks off at the Water-splashing Square. With upbeat music playing, the square transforms into a “city that never sleeps,” as people sway to the rhythm of the music, fully releasing their passion and energy.

Festival Features

The “Water-splashing Festival” is the Dai New Year. During the three-day celebration, in addition to splashing water and exchanging blessings, visitors can also enjoy local activities such as dragon boat racing, bullfighting, and singing and dancing on the sandy beaches along the Mengla River in Jinping.

As the water-splashing begins, people rush to the streams and rivers, pouring buckets of friendship-filled water onto the revelers and splashing basins of auspicious water onto guests from afar, sharing the beautiful wishes of the Dai people with everyone.

Amidst the cheers of “Water, water, water,” the water-splashing battle continues to be lively. Additionally, the festival features activities like tossing bags and swinging, creating a lively atmosphere both inside and outside the village.

Overview of The Festival

Chinese Name: 孟连娜允镇傣族神鱼节
English Name: Holy Fish Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority in Menglian County, Puer
Location: Menglian County
Time: April 10th to 13th.

The “Shenyu Festival” is a festival held in the Menglian Dai, Lahu, and Wa Autonomous County of Pu’er City, Yunnan Province. It is a celebration for people to express gratitude for the blessings brought to humanity by the “divine fish.” This festival is also an original ecological ethnic cultural tourism project. It is known as the “Oriental Water Carnival” and is one of the most distinctive festive activities in Yunnan Province.

Origin

According to legend, a long time ago, the Buddha sent a divine fish to Menglian to deliver rice seeds. Unfortunately, on the way, it was caught by a devil, who roasted it over a fire. The fish’s body curled up from the heat, and one of its eyes bulged out. At that moment, the divine fish suddenly remembered its mission to deliver the rice seeds and desperately escaped from the devil’s grasp, jumping into the river to deliver the seeds to Menglian. To this day, the divine fish bears marks of having been burned, with its eyes appearing white, one eye bulging out, and its tail curled. With the arrival of the rice seeds, the lives of the people in Menglian improved greatly, but it was still not perfect. Soon after, the Buddha sent the divine fish along with ferns to Menglian to enrich the lives of its people. Thus, in gratitude for the Buddha’s blessings, every April, people joyfully fish and celebrate, and the Shenyu Festival has been passed down through generations.

In ancient times, the “Shenyu Festival” was the happiest day for the common people because it was a day when the local chieftain allowed fishing in the restricted rivers. Therefore, the “Shenyu Festival” became the liveliest festival in Menglian County.

Development

The Shenyu Festival is held annually from April 10th to 13th in the Menglian Dai, Lahu, and Wa Autonomous County of Pu’er City, Yunnan Province. Every year, with the arrival of the Dai New Year, people chant scriptures to honor the “divine fish” and conduct religious rituals such as releasing fish, hoping that the “divine fish” will bring continuous blessings to humanity.

Social Impact

The Shenyufe Festival, with its originality, uniqueness, and distinctive carnival charm, has been widely welcomed by the public. It has particularly had a significant impact on neighboring countries such as Myanmar and Thailand, attracting an increasing number of domestic and foreign tourists to Menglian. The recognition of Menglian is also continuously expanding. Some have described the Shenyufe Festival as one of the most creative festivals in the world, comparable to global carnivals like Spain’s Tomatina.

In 2008, it was awarded as one of the “Top Ten Ethnic Carnivals in Yunnan Province.” The successful hosting of the Shenyufe Festival has enriched the tourism products of Menglian County, forming intangible cultural tourism projects in the area and creating a new economic growth point for the tourism industry in Menglian County. This has strongly promoted the vigorous development of the tourism industry in Menglian County. Thus, it can be seen that the Shenyufe Festival is set to become a highly influential tourism brand not only in Yunnan Province but also in China.

Key Activities the Festival:

1. Ritual Offerings: The festival begins with rituals that include offering food, flowers, and fruits to the holy fish as a sign of respect and gratitude. This is often accompanied by prayers for a good harvest and prosperity.
2. Cultural Performances: Traditional music and dance performances are integral to the celebrations. Dai folk songs and dances are performed, showcasing the vibrant culture of the Dai people and often involving community participation.
3. Parades and Processions: Festivities often include colorful parades featuring participants dressed in traditional Dai clothing. These processions usually highlight the importance of fish in the local culture and the connection between the community and nature.
4. Fishing Competitions: In some variants of the festival, fishing competitions may be held, where locals compete to catch fish in a spirit of friendly rivalry. These competitions can also serve as a means of reinforcing community bonds.
5. Delicious Cuisine: Food is a major aspect of the festival, with various local dishes, especially those prepared with fish, being served during the celebrations. It is an opportunity for people to gather, share meals, and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
6. Cultural Exhibitions: The festival may also feature exhibitions of local crafts, artworks, and traditional clothing, providing visitors with insights into the Dai culture and heritage.
7. Community Engagement: The Holy Fish Festival fosters a sense of community as people come together to celebrate their shared traditions. It serves as a way to strengthen cultural identity and pass on traditions to future generations.

Brief Introduction

Water-Splashing Festival (泼水节)is also called Bath Buddha Festival(浴佛节). It is called Sangkanbimai/桑堪比迈(meaning New Year) in Dai ethnic language.  Dai  and  Jingpo ethnic groeps  also call this festival Shanghan and Shangjian . Both names are derived from Sanskrit, meaning turnover, change and transfer, indicating that the new year is coming. Achang (阿昌族), De’ang(德昂族), Bulang(布朗族), Wa(佤族) and other ethnic groups celebrated this festival. Cambodia(柬埔寨), Thailand(泰国), Myanmar(缅甸), Laos (老挝)and other countries also have Water-Splashing Festivals. Water-splashing Festival is usually held in middle of the six month of the Dai ethnic calendar (about ten days before and after the Tomb-sweeping Festival of the lunar calendar), which is one of the most solemn traditional festivals in Xishuangbanna. Its content includes folk activities, artistic performances, economic and trade exchanges and other categories.

Legend

Seven good-hearted fairies used their hair to make bows to kill their father, the evil God Pangmadiendalazha(捧玛点搭拉乍). When the head of a ferocious God landed on the earth, a fire broke out. In order to avoid the human disaster, seven girls took turns holding the head until it rotted, splashing water to remove the foul odor during the rotation. To commemorate their feats, the Dai people poured water on the occasion of the New Year to celebrate and express their wishes.

Activities

On the first day of theWater Splashing Festival is called Wanmo(宛墨) in Dai language . It is similar to the lunar New Year’s Eve, when families clean up, buy new year’s goods and prepare to send the old and welcome the new.The next day is called Wannao(宛恼), which means empty day. Folk people call it the day when the head of evil god rots. The main activity is splashing water.The third day is called Wan Pa Ya Wan Ma(宛帕雅宛玛), which means the day when the King comes. The activities will be held such as piling up sand(堆沙), bathing Buddha(浴佛), splashing blessed water(滴福水), lifting ascension(放高升), visiting friends(拜年), splashing water (泼水)and so on , mainly with saluting New Year and splashing water carnival.

Swinging(赶摆) is one of the major events of the Water Sprinkling Festival. The playground is usually located in the middle of a river bank or a dam, with elevated elevators beside the playground. It has a special place for sparks and flying lights. People of all nationalities dressed in festival attire gather here from all directions, with a sea of people and a noisy sky of gongs and drums. People listen to Zhang Ha’s singing(章哈演唱), watch folk artists perform peacock dance(孔雀舞), elephant foot drum dance(象脚鼓舞), butterfly dance(蝴蝶舞), white elephant dance(白象舞), wapiti dance(马鹿舞), knife dance(刀舞), boxing dance(拳舞) and so on, and dance with the rhythm of drum point Yilahui dance(依拉咴). With the dragon boat racing on the river, rising in the air,young men and women gather to throw bags and pass on friendship. At night, people continue to sing and dance carnival, lifting, setting off sparks and flying lights, extraordinary liveliness.

Chinese Version:http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-11110-1408.html                                                                                  Translated by Olive Zhang/张银芳

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• Yunnan Intangible Cultural Heritages
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• National Inheritors of ICH
• Yunnan Provincial ICH
• Provincial Inheritors of ICH
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• Yunnan Ethnic Culture
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• Traditional Ethnic Villages in Yunnan
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Chinese Name:傣族开门节/出夏节/出洼
English Name: Kaimen (Opening Door ) Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority

Open Door Festival, also known as “Out of the Lowlands Festival” or “Lowlands Festival,” is a traditional holiday celebrated by the Dai,布朗族, Deang, and Va ethnic groups in China who believe in Southern Transmission of Upper Buddhism. The festival is held on the 15th day of the 12th month of the Dai calendar (approximately in mid-September). The Open Door Festival symbolizes the end of the three-month rainy season and indicates the lifting of restrictions on marriage between men and women, starting from the closure festival. From this day on, young men and women can start dating or hold weddings. During the festival, young people wear formal clothes to go to the temple to worship the Buddha, offering food, flowers, candles, and coins. After the sacrifice is over, a grand cultural assembly is held to celebrate the end of the three-month fasting period. The main activities include lighting firecrackers and raising lanterns, singing and dancing. Young people also light up various bird, animal, fish, and insect-shaped lanterns and tour the village. At this time, the rice harvest has just ended, so it is also a festival to celebrate the harvest.

The last day of the Lowlands Festival, on the 15th day of the 12th month of the Dai calendar (approximately in mid-October), marks the beginning of the Open Door Festival (also known as “Out of the Lowlands”). This indicates that the three-month fasting period since the closure festival has ended. On this day, both men and women of all ages dress up to go to the temple to worship the Buddha and offer food, flowers, candles, and coins to the Buddha. The elderly often stay in the temple during this time, living a religious life similar to that of the monks. The festival lasts for three days, during which various artistic activities are held. The Buddhist monks are free to come and go, and laypeople can build houses and get married, making the place particularly lively. From a formal point of view, the Open Door Festival and the Lowlands Festival are religious holidays, but in reality they are closely related to production activities. The three-month period of the Lowlands Festival is a busy farming season, allowing people, especially young men and women, to rest and engage in agricultural work. When the Open Door Festival arrives, the harvest has been completed, and people rest and celebrate the harvest, engaging in non-productive construction and social activities. It is necessary to have these activities during the three-day festival period.

Kaimen Festival of Achang Ethnic Minority
阿昌族开门节：
Achang Opening Festival:
It is held on the 15th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar every year, meaning the release of the Buddha from the temple. The festival lasts for three days. At this time, the harvest is over and the agricultural leisure period begins, so the ban on entering the lowlands festival is cancelled, and young people can enjoy themselves freely. On the 15th day, all the unmarried young men in the village carry flower paper and beat elephant-foot drums to parade in the village, while the elderly people go to the Buddhist temple to burn incense and burn the offerings that were placed behind the Buddhist seat in the temple when they entered the lowlands. On the 16th day, the Buddha’s release from the lowlands ceremony is held, and all unmarried girls must enter the Buddhist temple to worship the Buddha. On the 17th day, young men and women from all villages gather to listen to the Buddha’s lectures on scriptures in their own villages. Then, people sing and dance, congratulate each other, and young men and women can start talking and making love again from this day on, forming marriage partnerships.

Kaimen Festival of Deang Ethnic Minority德昂族开门节
The Door Opening Festival of the De’ang Ethnic Group is held on the last day of the annual Door Opening Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the 12th month of the Bengali calendar, and lasts for 3 days. On the 15th day, young men carry flowers and beat elephant-foot drums as they parade around the village, while the elderly go to the Buddhist temple to burn incense and respect the Buddha. On this day, the Festival of Entering the Lowlands is also burned on the east side of the Buddha statue to symbolize the Buddha’s emergence from the lowlands. On the 16th day, a ceremony is held for the Buddha’s emergence from the lowlands, and unmarried young women go to the Buddhist temple to thank the Buddha for the grace of the lifting of the ban. On the 16th day, a celebration and a religious ceremony are held. In the morning, young men and women gather to listen to the Buddha’s scripture and preaching. Then they dance and sing happily, congratulating each other. Since the three-month ban during the Entering the Lowlands Festival has been lifted, young men and women will use the festival activities to court and express their love. As the mid-December of the Bengali calendar marks the end of the agricultural season and the harvest of cotton, the festival not only has religious significance, but also celebrates the harvest.

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