6 February 2024
The New Year festival will be celebrated as usual at Lahu villages in Tachilek Township, Shan State (East), according to the Lahu National Literature and Culture Association.
“Traditionally, our people celebrate the New Year Festival between the 1st and 11th waxing of Tabodwe. Villagers will organize traditional dances daily and welcome the visitors with our cuisines,” Chairman of the association U Yae Shel said. The festival will fall around 10 to 20 February this year.
There are over 40 Lahu villages in Tachilek Township, with Yaypusan Village having the largest Lahu population. While the youth enjoy dances and feasts, the elders partake in hand-washing ceremonies, symbolizing their hopes for a tranquil and prosperous year ahead. Other festival highlights include the pine-growing demonstration, pounding khawpoke (dried sticky rice), games of spinning tops, courtship rituals among bachelors, and dodgeball matches.
