People across Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar are eager to herald their traditional New Year festivals according to the Buddhist calendar.

During the Bunpimay celebration, Lao locals offer rice to Buddhist monks to pray for luck and health. Other activities include Buddha bathing, water splashing, and culture and art performances.

Meanwhile, Cambodians decorate their homes to welcome the Chol Chnam Thmay festival, a golden occasion for family gatherings. They also offer rice to Buddhist monks, build sand mountains to erase sins, and organise Buddha bathing ceremonies and folk games.

Elephants spray water to welcome visitors on Songkran New Year festival in Thailand (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Elsewhere in Thailand, people are busy decorating their houses to ring in the New Year - Songkran. Buddhist worship and animal release form parts of the festival. People from all walks of life splash water to pray for good luck and wash away bad luck from the old year.

During the Thingyan celebration, people in Myanmar hold a number of activities such as bathing the Buddha at home, worshipping the Buddha, offering rice to Buddhist monks, splashing water and dancing.

(Source: VNA)