Youthful grace
A girl wearing a traditional dress posing for a photo in a temple during the Songkran Festival or the Lao New Year in Luang Prabang. The Lao New Year takes place in April, the hottest time of the year in Laos, which is also the start of the monsoon season. The official festival lasts for three days from April 14 to 16, although celebrations can last more than a week in towns such as Luang Prabang. The first day is the last day of the old year.
(Clockwork from top left) Miss Universe Laos 2020 Christina Lasasimma participating in a parade, people splashing water on each other and people sprinkling water on monks sitting on a float to celebrate the Songkran Festival or the Lao New Year in Luang Prabang. Traditionally, people gently sprinkle water on one another as a sign of respect, but as the new year falls during the hottest month in South-East Asia, many people end up dousing strangers and passers-by in vehicles in boisterous celebration. The act of pouring water is also a show of blessings and good wishes.