Lao New Year, called Pi Maior less commonly Songkran , is celebrated every year from 13/14 April to 15/16 April.
Lao New Year is widely celebrated festival in Laos.
Lao New Year takes place in April, the hottest time of the year in Laos, which is also the start of the monsoon season

 

Traditions

Water

Students first respectfully pour water on their elders, then monks for blessings of long life and peace, and last of all they splash water at each other.

Sand

Sand is brought to the temple grounds and is made into stupas or mounds, then decorated before being given to the monks as a way of making merit

Animals

Another way to make merit at this time is to set animals free. The Lao believe that animals need to be free.

Flowers

Flowers are gathered to decorate Buddha images.

Beauty pageant

There is an annual beauty pageant in Luang Prabang to crown Miss Pi Mai Lao (Miss Lao New Year).

Music and dance

During Lao New Year, there are many spectacles including traditional Lao music and social dancing, molam, and lamvông, which translates to 'circle dancing'