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New Year is celebrated in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia at the same time. Although, the three communities celebrated theirs in each separate temples in Irvington on different weekends the excitement was definitely there! Estela Dorn had the privilege of being part of the New Year celebrations by the Thai and Lao communities in their respective temples in Irvington recently.

Reagan Ngamvilay invited MIF for the Thai and Lao communities’ New Year held on April 27th. Since the wat (temple) of Wat Lao Buddaraksa was destroyed by fire a month ago, people from as far as New Orleans, Ft. Walton and Panama City came to give their offerings to help rebuild the temple. The traditional Buddhist ceremonies were celebrated by Pra Maha Chaiwat (head of the Buddhist monks). The children were dousing each other with water and having a good time. Inside the Community Center, there was dancing and traditional food.

Vina Khanthavongsa invited MIF to the Lao New Year (Sabaidee Pemai) for a three-day celebration starting on Friday, May 9, with the official inauguration of their new Community Center. Janine Phillips from The Community Foundation of South Alabama (a MIF sponsor) and I were present for this occasion. At the communal lunch, she and I ate dishes brought by different families. I was excited to see dried fish among the dishes. I introduced dried fish to Janine. (No, she did not try it but I had her picture taken holding dried fish.) It was a fun-filled family weekend with celebrations that were reminiscent of back home. There were stalls selling drinks and native foods, games, pageant, cultural dances, parade, and dancing for two days. There was even horseback riding. Of course, the ever present traditional face application with talcum powder or shaving cream and dousing of water. It is an honor to have one’s face dabbed with either one to signify best wishes. Vina recognized Mobile International Festival during the Saturday evening program.

Before departing, it is traditional to receive blessings from the monks. Pra Maha Chaiwat poured cold water over me (yes, it was cold!) and I followed everyone on my knees as I went down the line to offer and receive blessings from all the monks.