New Year Celebrations in Laos

To me, it was so entertaining to see our staff enjoy their food, laughing, and singing, splashing each other and dancing all day long. This short but most enjoyable moment in time has already given me so much happiness, jollity, and fulfillment for a better and greater new year!

Mai first came to DDD in 2003, when she joined the management training in Phnom Penh. She returned to her native Laos to start DDD’s Vientiane office in December 2003, where she held the position of General Manager until 2009. She is now Chief Operating Officer for all of DDD.

Lao New Year is one of the biggest festivals in Laos. It is a time for us, and our Lao families, to purify, to forgive and to bless each other. Our traditional and cultural practice is to invite monks to our home for a cleansing and blessing ceremony. Those who don’t, or are not able to do so, usually prepare holy water, candles, flowers and sometimes food, to take to the temples to achieve blessings. At home, the young children prepare flowers, candles, blessing strings, holy water and clothing offered to their seniors, such as parents and grandparents as a token to express their attitudes, to ask for forgiveness, and blessings for the New Year.

Friends are invited for food, drink and dance. Everyone in the community has a great, crazy, fun time drenching each other with a big bucket of cool water, sometimes with flour and colors. Almost everyone prepares holy water with flowers and perfume to bring to temples to pour on Buddha images that are placed on special alters to cleanse, heal, and bless their souls.

This year, as in many other years, DDD in Lao invited monks to the office for the great holy fire and “baci” ceremony. As usual, we all immerse ourselves in the true Lao New Year atmosphere, washing away all negativity and receiving good lucks to heighten our spirits.

To me, it was so entertaining to see our staff enjoy their food, laughing, and singing, splashing each other and dancing all day long. Although I had to leave the party early to prepare for my business trip to Oxford (for the Skoll World Forum), I didn’t feel I missed out on the New Year celebration this year. This short but most enjoyable moment in time has already given me so much happiness, jollity, and fulfillment for a better and greater new year!