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Laos students and their Vietnamese friends enjoy Bunpimay celebration. Photo N.T |
Laos students studying at Quy Nhon University celebrated their traditional festival, Bunpimay holiday, from April 13 to 15.
Jubilant Bunpimay celebration
Laos people’s Bunpimay holiday, also known as water-splashing festival, annually begins from April 13 to 15. In this festival they go to the pagodas to water Buddhas, then powder, and splash water each other. These activities are considered as the best wishes for all people. On visiting a family, the host often ties the thread on the guest’s wrist.
Laos students studying Quy Nhon celebrated Bunpimay holiday with all traditional rituals. Busy with the decoration for rooms in the dormitory, but all of them were really happy.
The atmosphere of Bunpimay celebration was really jubilant on April 13. Representatives of provincial People’s Committee and Quy Nhon University, and many Vietnamese students enjoyed the festival.
Two days later, the water splashing festival began. All buckets, glasses, cups were used to splash water on anyone coming the festival with best wishes. They then enjoyed the lamvong dance and tied the thread on their wrists.
Close friendship
Laos students’ happiness seemed double with the participation of Vietnamese students. Hue, a sophomore, said, “This is the second time I’ve joined Bunpimay celebration with my classmates. The water splashing festival is a very unique custom of Laos. Sometimes I was splashed water behind but it didn’t matter because the more I became wet the luckier I was.”
As soon as she stopped talking, a group of Vietnamese students came to the room. A student held a bucket of water and splashed it over the others. After that, they danced with hand in hand. In the next room, Laos students were instructing Vietnamese ones to learn the lamvong dance.
Phongphet In Thavong, living in Quy Nhon for five months, said, “Last year, I celebrated Bunpimay holiday at home. I visited my friends’ houses and went to a waterfall. Laos people love to go to waterfalls on this holiday. This is the first time I celebrated the traditional festival in another country, but I still felt happy because I have many friends.”
Tebuachon Keo Bun Huong said, “When living in Laos, I helped my mother prepare all things for the holiday. During the festival all of us dressed beautifully, going to pagodas.” I enjoyed this year’s Bunpimay celebration in Quy Nhon but didn’t feel sad. Vietnamese friends were very friendly, she added.
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