Miss Lao New Year
The very first event in the Phi Mai festivities each year is a beauty contest held over two nights night at That Luang Park. Young women from across Luang Prabang province dressed in their finest traditional pha sin compete for the title of Nang Songkhan (ນາງສົງການ) (Miss Lao New Year), judged by local officials and members of the Lao Women's Union on their beauty, decorum, grace and their ability to promote traditional Lao feminine virtues. Each of the young women are supported by boisterous groups of family, friends and fans cheering from the audience. The winner of the contest will play an important role in the ceremonies over the New Year.
Over two nights the most befitting young women are chosen to be the Nang Sangkhan and her six sisters
In fact the chosen Nang Sangkhan will be joined in the forthcoming ceremonies by the six runners-up in the contest. The reason for this lies in the story behind the beauty contest. The Nang Sangkhan and her six fellow competitors represent the seven daughters of the mythical King Kabilaphom who ordered his own beheading. The story goes as thus;
King Kabinlaphom had heard of a sage named Thammapala Kumman and wanted to test the renowned knowledge and wisdom of this man. The king posed a riddle to Thammapala and said that if after seven days he was unable to answer correctly the king would have him beheaded. But, if on the other hand Thammapala could answer correctly then the king would have his own head cut off. For six days and nights Thammapala was unable to find an answer to the riddle and in the end he lay down under a tree reconciled to his forth-coming beheading. But in the tree above he overheard two eagles discussing the riddle and its answer. Fortunately Thammapala had learnt the language of birds as a young boy and was able to understand what the eagles were discussing. The following day he returned to the palace where he was able to present the correct answer to the riddle.
King Kabinlaphom, impressed by the knowledge of this sage, agreed to keep his word and have his head cut off. But he called to his seven daughters and told them "I will cut off my head and will offer it to Thammapala Kumman tomorrow. My head is sacred and powerful. If it is thrown in the water, the river will erupt throughout the land. If it is thrown in the air there will be no rain." The daughters were therefore instructed to catch their fathers head on a tray and keep it safe in a cave below Mount Sumeru. Each year they take their father's head out, bathe it and carry it around Mount Sumeru before replacing it in the cave.
The Nang Sangkhan at Vat Xieng Thong 2024
Each of the seven sisters is associated with a day of the week, an animal and a pair of "weapons". Whichever day of the week that the new year starts on determines which of the seven sisters will lead the ceremonies to come.
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Nang Thoungsa Thevi (ນາງ ທຸງສະເທວີ)
Sunday, rides a garuda (mythical half man half bird). Carries a discus in her right hand, a conch shell in her left hand. [e.g. 2019] Nang Kholaka Thevi (ນາງ ໂຄລະຄະເທວີ) Monday. Rides a tiger. Carries a sword in her right hand, a cane in her left hand. [e.g. 2015, 2025] Nang Haksod Thevi (ນາງ ຮັກສົດເທວີ) Tuesday. Rides a pig. Carries a trident in her right hand, a bow in her left hand. Nang Montha Thevi (ນາງ ມົນທາເທວີ) Wednesday. Rides a donkey. Carries a staff in her right hand, a crook in her left hand. [e.g. 2016] Nang Khilini Thevi (ນາງ ກີລີນີເທວີ) Thursday. Rides an elephant. Carries an elephant hook in her right hand, a gun in her left hand. Nang Khimita Thevi (ນາງ ກິມີທາເທວີ) Friday. Rides a buffalo. Carries a sword in her right hand, a lute in her left hand. [e.g. 2017, 2023] Nang Mahothone Thevi (ນາງ ມະໂຫທອນເທວີ) Saturday. Rides a peacock. Carries a discus in her right hand, a trident in her left hand. [e.g. 2024] |
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In 2024 the Nang Sangkhan rode upon a magnificent peacock designed by local artist Ounhuean Phommany
The Nang Sangkhan play their first role on the Meu Nau day between the old and the new year, when they are the centre of attention despite bringing up the rear of the Kabuan Hae Vor (ຂະບວນແຫ່ວໍ່) "Procession of the Palanquins". This large and lively procession from Vat Maha That to Vat Xieng Thong traditionally comprises the abbots of all the main temples being carried in palanquins with the monks and novices of their temples walking behind. They are followed by various community organisations, different ethnic groups as well as the important guardian spirits Phou Ngeu and Nya Ngeu with their companion Sing Keo Sing Kham. At the back of the procession is the Nang Sangkhan riding upon her animal for that year carrying her traditional "weapons". She is surrounded by her six sisters and with them will be the four-faced head of King Kabinlaphom their father.
People pour water over the monks in a show of respect during the Kabuan Hae Wor procession
The Kabuan Hae Vor procession passes through the centre of town where locals and tourists alike are engaged in a water fight to celebrate the day. Only the graceful Nang Sangkhan and her sisters are spared a thorough soaking. On arrival at Vat Xieng Thong the Nang Sangkhan dismounts from her ride and with great grace enters the temple to pay her respects to the Buddha and to be blessed.
The following day is Meu Pimai, New Year's Day, and in the early afternoon the Kabuan Hae Vor procession of the previous day is repeated but now in the reverse direction, starting at Vat Xieng Thong and finishing at Vat Maha That. When the procession reaches Vat Maha That the Nang Sangkhan once again pay their respects and receive blessings.
The following day is Meu Pimai, New Year's Day, and in the early afternoon the Kabuan Hae Vor procession of the previous day is repeated but now in the reverse direction, starting at Vat Xieng Thong and finishing at Vat Maha That. When the procession reaches Vat Maha That the Nang Sangkhan once again pay their respects and receive blessings.
The Nang Sangkhan presents the four-faced head of King Kabinlaphom at Vat Maha That 2024
In the morning of the second day of the new year the Prabang Buddha is bought out of the Ho Prabang in the grounds of the former royal palace and moved in great procession to the forecourt of Vat Mai. The Nang Sangkhan are honoured with being amongst the first to pay their respects by pouring water over the Prabang. After this important ceremony they travel 25km up the Mekong River to the Pak Ou caves where they pay their respects to the Buddha images in both the lower and the upper caves. They then cross the river to receive blessings from the monks at Vat Pak Ou.
The role of the Nang Sangkhan in the Pi Mai ceremonies is relatively new, being introduced around 1968 and it took some years to become established in its current form as an addition to the religious Hae Wor parade. In the early years different villages in the town would hold their own Nang Sangkhan parade and in 1971 the Nang Sangkhan rode upon a cloud rather than her chosen animal. After 1975 there was a hiatus of three years when no parade was held but from its revival in 1980 the Nang Sangkhan has taken on increased significance. In the former era the King was a central element of the Pi Mai ceremonies. He would visit the traditional boundaries of his kingdom, Sanghalok to the south and Pak Ou to the north where he would pay his respects to the Buddha and be sprinkled with water himself as a sign of respect. Similarly he would pay his respects at Vat Xieng Thong, the centre of the kingdom and at Vat Mai the King would lead worshippers in pouring water over the revered Prabang. These were important rituals ensuring the continued peace and harmony of the kingdom. In his absence the Nang Sangkhan has taken on the lead role in many of these ancient rites, maintaining a sense of ritual continuity.