8/9/2005: Water-splashing festival

Undertoad · 08-09-2005, 01:49 PM

Dateline: Jinghong, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan Province. The area is one-third Dai, which it seems is a Buddhist sect. This is their most important annual holiday. It's a water-splashing festival which is also called the festival for bathing the Buddha. And even though super soakers have apparently become commonplace, it's been going on a long time. From the full story,

Although there are numerous legends about the origin of the festival, one of the best known tells of the long-ago days when there was a devil in the village where the Dai people lived, doing all manner of evil. All the people hated him but his magic was too powerful for them to overcome.

One day in the sixth month, his seventh wife, who had been kidnapped from the village, tricked him into revealing his weaknesses. As he slept, his wives used his hair to cut off his head. But the head began to burn when it touched the ground, and the fire would die only if one of the women held the head tightly in her arms.

So the seven wives took turns holding the head, each for a period of one year. Every year when they changed, people would splash water on the woman who had been holding the head for the past year to wash away the blood and a year of fatigue.

As time went by, the ritual became a happy -- even raucous -- way to send off the old year and greet the new.

complete gallery of images

lookout123 · 08-09-2005, 01:54 PM

where exactly is the line for the wet tshirt contest?

Elspode · 08-09-2005, 02:08 PM

This is what is wrong with religion in this country...no religious holidays dedicated to a national waterfight.

In Detroit, there would be riots and burning despite all the water. In LA, there would be soggy bouts of looting. In Chicago, there'd be a big wet parade.

Never mind. This country can't handle a national waterfight.

glatt · 08-09-2005, 02:24 PM

I love it. This is awesome. I want to be there.

Trilby · 08-09-2005, 03:02 PM

Any excuse for a party! I like it! Nice that it happens in the summer, though, 'cause a winter water-fight would kinda suck.

Hobbs · 08-09-2005, 04:10 PM

You gotta love a country that has a national holiday that involves water pistols. Wata we have? Fireworks. *yawn*

lookout123 · 08-09-2005, 04:37 PM

water pistols? who cares? how cool can it be if you can't permanently disfigure you and your loved ones with it?

xoxoxoBruce · 08-09-2005, 05:05 PM

Use a crossbow and icicles for that.
I'm not falling for that Budda story...I know it's all about nipples and always was.

Leah · 08-09-2005, 06:10 PM

Lucky for some, and certainly lucky for some countries. Us folks back here in Sydney are still on water restrictions and probably will be for the rest of our lives. It is a real waste of water thought (sorry to be practical)

xoxoxoBruce · 08-09-2005, 06:13 PM

So Leah, that means you shower with a friend.

Leah · 08-09-2005, 06:15 PM

I try to, but no takers at the moment.

It would save water, and I'm all for saving water.

busterb · 08-09-2005, 07:29 PM

Lady I may be old, but I can promise you all the water you could ever want. Anything else, sorry, might be out for lunch.

russotto · 08-09-2005, 08:17 PM

Maybe it's just me... but too much unsharp mask?

chrisinhouston · 08-09-2005, 11:31 PM

The little boy in the next to last image looks like the typical Maoist poster child image, all he needs is a little red book!

Needs some caption like "I will use my super soaker to fight for the motherland and Chairman Mao."

Elspode · 08-09-2005, 11:34 PM

I have just looked at Leah's picture in her profile, and I find it nearly impossible to believe that she cannot find a shower partner.

Leah, I think you must be letting silly things like attraction or thoughts of relationships get in your way. You need to take one for the team and get to doing some serious water conservation!

08-09-2005, 01:49 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	8/9/2005: Water-splashing festival Dateline: Jinghong, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan Province. The area is one-third Dai, which it seems is a Buddhist sect. This is their most important annual holiday. It's a water-splashing festival which is also called the festival for bathing the Buddha. And even though super soakers have apparently become commonplace, it's been going on a long time. From the full story, Although there are numerous legends about the origin of the festival, one of the best known tells of the long-ago days when there was a devil in the village where the Dai people lived, doing all manner of evil. All the people hated him but his magic was too powerful for them to overcome. One day in the sixth month, his seventh wife, who had been kidnapped from the village, tricked him into revealing his weaknesses. As he slept, his wives used his hair to cut off his head. But the head began to burn when it touched the ground, and the fire would die only if one of the women held the head tightly in her arms. So the seven wives took turns holding the head, each for a period of one year. Every year when they changed, people would splash water on the woman who had been holding the head for the past year to wash away the blood and a year of fatigue. As time went by, the ritual became a happy -- even raucous -- way to send off the old year and greet the new. complete gallery of images

08-09-2005, 01:54 PM	#2
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	where exactly is the line for the wet tshirt contest? __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

08-09-2005, 02:08 PM	#3
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	This is what is wrong with religion in this country...no religious holidays dedicated to a national waterfight. In Detroit, there would be riots and burning despite all the water. In LA, there would be soggy bouts of looting. In Chicago, there'd be a big wet parade. Never mind. This country can't handle a national waterfight. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

08-09-2005, 03:02 PM	#5
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Any excuse for a party! I like it! Nice that it happens in the summer, though, 'cause a winter water-fight would kinda suck. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

08-09-2005, 04:10 PM	#6
Hobbs Professor for the school of ass-clownery Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Surprise! Posts: 404	You gotta love a country that has a national holiday that involves water pistols. Wata we have? Fireworks. yawn __________________ That's it! Send in the chimps!

08-09-2005, 02:24 PM	#4
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I love it. This is awesome. I want to be there.

08-09-2005, 04:37 PM	#7
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	water pistols? who cares? how cool can it be if you can't permanently disfigure you and your loved ones with it? __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

08-09-2005, 05:05 PM	#8
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Use a crossbow and icicles for that. I'm not falling for that Budda story...I know it's all about nipples and always was. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

08-09-2005, 06:10 PM	#9
Leah Love my Heffalumps Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia (best place in the world) Posts: 346	Lucky for some, and certainly lucky for some countries. Us folks back here in Sydney are still on water restrictions and probably will be for the rest of our lives. It is a real waste of water thought (sorry to be practical)

08-09-2005, 06:13 PM	#10
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	So Leah, that means you shower with a friend. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

08-09-2005, 06:15 PM	#11
Leah Love my Heffalumps Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia (best place in the world) Posts: 346	I try to, but no takers at the moment. It would save water, and I'm all for saving water.

08-09-2005, 07:29 PM	#12
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	Lady I may be old, but I can promise you all the water you could ever want. Anything else, sorry, might be out for lunch. __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

08-09-2005, 08:17 PM	#13
russotto Professor Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,788	Maybe it's just me... but too much unsharp mask?

08-09-2005, 11:31 PM	#14
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	The little boy in the next to last image looks like the typical Maoist poster child image, all he needs is a little red book! Needs some caption like "I will use my super soaker to fight for the motherland and Chairman Mao."

08-09-2005, 11:34 PM	#15
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	I have just looked at Leah's picture in her profile, and I find it nearly impossible to believe that she cannot find a shower partner. Leah, I think you must be letting silly things like attraction or thoughts of relationships get in your way. You need to take one for the team and get to doing some serious water conservation! __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

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