Aspersion of the Prabang
A central part of all the Pi Mai water festival celebrations is the sprinkling of water on lay people, monks and buddha images to gain Buddhist merit. At home children and adults will gently sprinkle water on their elders as a sign of respect as well as pouring water over the Buddha images in their own home. Similarly at the temple lay people will sprinkle water on the feet of the monks to make merit.
During Pi Mai every temple will bring some of its Buddha images from the sim and set them up on a small platform in front of the temple. A hanlin, a wooden channel carved in the shape of a naga, is set up overhead so that people can pour water over the Buddha statues whilst maintaining a respectful distance. During every evening of the Pi Mai period families can be seen going to the monasteries together to pour water over the Buddha statues.
During Pi Mai every temple will bring some of its Buddha images from the sim and set them up on a small platform in front of the temple. A hanlin, a wooden channel carved in the shape of a naga, is set up overhead so that people can pour water over the Buddha statues whilst maintaining a respectful distance. During every evening of the Pi Mai period families can be seen going to the monasteries together to pour water over the Buddha statues.
Fragrant water is poured over the Buddhas at each temple using the hanlin wooden channel
The most important of all these ceremonies is the aspersion of the Prabang, the most sacred Buddha statue in Laos. On the morning of the second day of the new year, with great ceremony the Prabang image is carefully carried out from the Ho Prabang in front of the old royal palace, carried down the steps and placed on a golden chariot that will carry it the short distance to Vat Mai. For this journey the Prabang is dressed with special golden shoes and a golden head-dress. The Prabang's chariot is followed by a procession of senior monks and officials all walking to the sound of traditional drums, gongs and conch shells. At Vat Mai the Prabang is carefully installed in a large temporary pavilion erected in front of the temple with two Hanlin set up for pouring of water from each side.
The aspersion of the Prabang begins by the town's founding spirits Phou Ngeu and Nya Ngeu climbing up steps to pour sanctified water from the Nam Khan river. They are followed by government officials, senior monks and the Nang Sangkhan. When all the VIP's have performed this duty the people of the town queue to pay their respects and make merit in the same way.
The Prabang stays in the Vat Mai pavilion for three days during which time thousands will come to pay their respects and pour water over this most sacred of statues. At the end of this period, in a ceremony similar as before, the Prabang is carried in the reverse direction on its golden chariot and re-installed in the Ho Prabang.
The Prabang stays in the Vat Mai pavilion for three days during which time thousands will come to pay their respects and pour water over this most sacred of statues. At the end of this period, in a ceremony similar as before, the Prabang is carried in the reverse direction on its golden chariot and re-installed in the Ho Prabang.
The tradition of sprinkling water over the Buddha image's at Pi Mai is very ancient and practiced throughout all the Tai/Lao countries. The main change to these Pi Mai ceremonies is the central role the King would have played in the past. Traditionally the King would he be the first to pay his respect to the Prabang followed by a similar ceremony at Vat Xieng Thong. During the first days of the new year the King would also visit Vat Visoun, Vat Sanghalok and Vat Pak Ou marking out the spiritual boundaries of the town. Not only would he pour water over the Buddha images but lustral water would be poured over the King, emphasising his highly auspicious status as a chakravartin ruler. During these ceremonies the King would be seated inside a small cubicle, the water poured in via a hanglin. One of these structures still remains at Vat Pak Ou.