In Myanmar, Thailand and other countries have the custom of watersplashing festivals, and in our country every year in April (Dai calendar in June), the Dai people in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan also celebrate the watersplashing festival, which is a traditional festival for them to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new.

Legend has it that the Dai hometown is beautiful and rich, and the people are rich in food and clothing. Later, a fire demon came and ran amok all day, doing evil, turning the Dai hometown into a hot and arid place with no grain. The people hated the fire demon to the bone and tried every means to eliminate it.

The fire demon robbed seven young and beautiful Dai girls one after another. The youngest of them was named Yixiang (also said to be called Nan Zongbu), who cheated on the love of the fire demon and drank with the fire demon on a day in the sixth month of the Dai calendar.

When the fire demon was drunk, Nong Xiang deliberately touted the fire demon's ability and said: "You are not afraid of anything, it is amazing. Long live the king!" The fire demon was drunk and carried away and blurted out: "I am not afraid of anything, just the same: I am afraid that my own hair strands will strangle my neck." www.gs5000.cn

Luxiang took the opportunity to pluck a hair from the fire demon's hair while he was drunk and sleeping soundly, and strangled the fire demon's head. Just as Nong Xiang was amazed and happy, the devil rolled there like a ball of fire and burned there.

Nong Xiang shouted loudly, and the six sisters hurried over and lifted the devil up with all their hands and feet. Strange to say, as soon as the devil leaves the ground, the fire goes out; as soon as it touches the ground, the fire starts again.

So the seven sisters had to take turns hugging the devil to prevent it from falling to the ground. The devil was hot, and everyone could only keep pouring water to cool down. They hugged each other for a year, and it was not until 7 years later that the devil died.

From then on, in order to commemorate their contributions, the Dai people held a water splashing festival every June of the Dai calendar to celebrate their victory over demons. Young people set off firecrackers, raced dragon boats, sang and danced for three or four days.

This folklore reflects humanity's desire to overcome drought and pray for a good harvest.