Description
Lao New Year is in mid-April, and the entire country takes a few days off to celebrate. It is out with the old and in with the new as houses are spring-cleaned and entire new wardrobes of clothes bought and worn. Offerings are made at temples and Buddha images receive their annual ritual washing. Water features at this festival, with people in the street routinely dousing each other. As April is the hottest time of year, this fun is welcome. The four days of the festival are official public holidays.