By CGTN's Tao Yuan
There's no such thing as too much water!
At least not in mid-April in China's ethnic Dai regions.
The annual Water Splashing Festival is the climax of Dai New Year celebrations, part of a cleansing ritual to start afresh once again.
In Xishuangbannan Prefecture's Po Shui Guang Chang -- literally meaning the “Water Splashing Square”-- and on every street and alleyway, tens of thousands of people, without any inhibitions, drench their family, friends and even random strangers who happen to be in the wrong (or right) place at the wrong (or right) time.
Everything that can hold water is used -- from pots and pans, to bottles, buckets and even water pistols. Splashing foes in their face, body or back -- it's all good.
“It’s a sign of hospitality and good luck,” says Yubian, a local Dai woman. “We are all in our best clothes, but we are having fun. That’s the most important thing.”
The annual Water Splashing Festival is the climax of Dai New Year celebrations / CGTN Picture
The Dai people live in a river valley of China's far southwest border region. They call themselves the “People of the Water.” The predominant religion is Buddhism. For the Dai, water is an important religious element, symbolizing religious purity, and goodwill among people.
