During the festival, local residents and visitors were treated to distinctive customs of the Bunpimay New Year, such as Buddha bathing, wrist-tying ceremonies, building sand stupas, releasing floating lanterns, and water splashing for good luck. For many Lao families who have lived in Buon Don for generations, the traditional New Year is not only a time for reunion but also a way to preserve their traditions.
Ms. Kham Bo Lao, a resident of Tri Village, Buon Don Commune, said, “I offer flowers, fruits, sweets, and small offerings to the monks to pray for health and happiness for my whole family. I also take part in the Buddha bathing ritual to wish for peace and well-being for my family and children.”
According to Mr. Nguyen Canh Tung, Chairman of the Buon Don Commune People’s Committee, the commune is home to more than 400 Lao people. Maintaining the Bunpimay New Year festival is an important way to meet the cultural and spiritual needs of the community and while creating opportunities for social interaction, strengthening solidarity, and promoting local socio-economic development.
“The Lao community here consists of more than 400 people living in Buon Don Commune. This is a long-preserved cultural identity of the Lao people. Every year, we organize the New Year celebration for Vietnamese people of Lao origin to foster unity among ethnic groups, and to support one another in socio-economic development,” said Tung.
