New Year is a 3 day celebration that falls on April 13, 14, 15. This celebration is based on the Hindu tradition from which Lao culture is mostly derived. New Year coincides with the end of the dry season and the start of the rains. Thus, water and the ceremonious acts of cleaning have symbolic roles in the festivals. The end of one season and the beginning of the next is seen as death and rebirth. Water, which is used universally as a type of cleansing element, is a major player in the new year festivities.

April 13 - the Sangkhan Long
April 14 - the Mueu Nao
April 15 - Sangkhan Khuen

On the first day of celebration, Sangkhan Long, Buddhists take on a huge endeavor to completely clean their homes to welcome the new year - a spring cleaning, so to speak.

In addition to the domestic overhaul, the Buddhas in the temples also receive their yearly cleansings. The cleansing process is performed with water. People would bring their buddhas to a special platform built specifically for this purpose. The platform is usually ornate - decorated to look like a miniature temple. A long gutter is attached to the platform in an almost horizontal manner. People pour water scented with perfume or flower petals in the gutter. The water runs down the gutter consequently washing the buddhas at the end. The run-off water is collected in a bucket at the buttom of the platform. This water is now considered holy. It can later be used to sprinkle over someone's head or on someone's property for prosperity in the following year.

Sand mounds are also built during this time. The mounds are decorated with flags, flowers, candles, and money. Buddhists make new year wishes as they build the mounds.

The second day Mueu Nao is the day the spirit of the previous year departs. The spirit of the new year has not yet arrived. At this time, Buddhists have no spirits to protect them, so life hangs on the balance between good and bad. Traditions mandate that on this day, Buddhists must stay home as to avoid any misfortunes.

The actual new year celebration is on the third day, Sangkhan Kheun. First thing in the morning, people go to the temple and make offerings of prayers, food and flowers. Afterward, they return home to celebrate something known as soukhouane. The ceremony is performed around a conical centerpiece that is made of banana leaves called Pah Q'uon . White good luck strings are hung extruding from the centerpiece. Flowers with candles are placed on top. Offerings of food and drink and whiskey are placed under the centerpiece. The ceremony is conducted by a respected elder known as the morporn. The morporn recites prayers with his finger tied to a good luck string which is attached to the Pah Q'uon. After the ceremony, the morporn is offered the whiskey. By tradition, he always refuses the first offer, but eventually relents. The whiskey is then offered to all the adult members of the family. The white good luck strings which are hung from the Pah Q'uon are then distributed amongst the attending parties. Participants in the ceremony tie the strings around one another's wrists. As a string is tied, the person tying the string offers words of wisdom to the receiver of the string. The strings are worn for 3 days. It is important not to tie the strings too tight. At the end of the third day, the strings must be untied to remove them from the wrist. The strings are never cut with scissors or knives. This string tying ceremony is known as Baci (Bahr See).

The third day of Pimai Lao is always the most festive. In Laos, neighbors would parade down the street going to each house and pour water on the head of household wishing them a happy new year. Pouring water on someone is meant to symbolize washing away the previous year's bad events. This tradition is seldom (or unheard of) practiced in the U.S.

As an act of good will and human kindness, Buddhists release all the captive animals in hopes that it will bring good fortune. These animals are always welcomed back, if they wish to return. Here, in the U.S., Lao Buddhists release avians to symbolically represent all caged animals.