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The history of the Lao New Year celebrations
Continued from Saturday’s issue ….
This is an appropriate time to tell the story that lies behind Lao New Year. Friday April 13 is the last day of the Year of Rabbit and Sunday April 15 is Pi Mai Lao – New Year’s Day.
…. “I won’t tell you now because it is past midnight and time for bed.”
“No! If you don’t tell me now, I will hold my breath until I die.”
The seven daughters of the god Phayakabinlaphom carry his symbolic head in a procession on the first day of Pi Mai Lao. (File Photo)
“Okay, I’ll tell you now! In the morning, a person’s sili is in the face. So the first thing they do when they get up is to wash their face. In the aftern oon, a person’s sili lies in the breast. As we know, people like to sprinkle water on their breast to ease the heat. In the evening, the sili lies in the feet, which is why we wash our feet before going to bed.”
As we noted earlier, Thammabarnkoummarn could understand the language of birds. This was the conversation between two vultures that he overheard, which ultimately saved his life. He left his place under the palm tree and ran back to the castle overjoyed.
The next morning was the seventh day, the day on which Thammabarnkoummarn was supposed to answer the god Phayakabinlaphom’s question. When Thammabarnkoummarn was able to provide the correct answer thanks to the vultures’ conversation he had overheard, Phayakabinlaphom was asto-nished. The god accepted that he was defeated in his challenge. But this meant Thammabarnkoummarn would now have to behead him, as they had agreed.
Phayakabinlaphom was a god with great power, greater than that of the angels and any human being. This meant that if he were beheaded, the whole world would be destroyed. If his head were cut off and his blood flowed on the earth, a fire would ensue that would burn the world. If his blood went int o the air, the oxygen would be consumed and humans and all living things would suffocate. If his blood entered the water, all the rivers and oceans would boil and dry up.
To avoid such a dreadful catastrophe, the god summoned his seven daughters, who represent the seven days of the week. The seven daughters each have their own animal and carry their own symbolic items as they ride.
Thoungsathevi is Sunday and legend has it that she rides a mythical bird. Kholakhathevi is Monday, and is borne by a tiger. Haksathevi is Tuesday and rides a wild boar. Monthathevi is Wednesday and rides a donkey. Kilinithevi is Thursday and she rides an elephant. Kimithathevi is Friday and rides a water buffalo. The seventh daughter, Mahothonthevi, is Saturday and rides a peacock. By these means did the seven daughters travel to meet their father.
Phayakabinlaphom told his daughters “When I am beheaded, take a gold tray and put my head on it. Make sure you catch all my blood so that not one drop falls to the ground. Then take my head and place it in Khaosoumenkailath Cave.”
The god told his seven daughters that on the first day of Pi Mai Lao, the daughter who represents that day should ride her animal to the cave and remove the head. Then she should sprinkle it with clean water mixed in a bowl with frangipani flowers and perfume. On the last day of Pi Mai, the daughters were instructed to form a procession to carry their father’s head back to the cave.
This is why, every Lao New Year, we go to temples to sprinkle Buddha images with water taken from a bowl to which flowers and perfume have been added. We also pour water on older people, our parents, relatives, leaders and friends to wish them good health, happiness, and a long life.
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