Sacred Mekong - Laos

Chitana Soulalai says a prayer then sends her offering into the moving waters of the Mekong River as a means of cleansing for the start of the New Year and as a way to offer ones sins from the previous year. The saying "Sia Kor Sianam" means to accept misfortune from last year, receive good fortune in the new year. This sacred river offering is part of the Boun Pi Mai Lao ceremonies in celebration of Lao New Year (also known as Songkran throughout other parts of S.E. Asia).

Published in National Geographic magazine