San Francisco, California–Laotian Americans from across the country celebrate the year 2555, Year of the Naga or Dragon, at the 4th Annual International Lao New Year Festival (ILNYF) with a one day-long event on April 28, at the United Nations Plaza, capped by an evening gala dinner at One Ferry Plaza in this famous city.

Hosted by the Center for Lao Studies (CLS) and the Laotian American National Alliance (LANA), the ILNYF is considered as one of the largest Southeast Asian cultural festivals and drew over 15,000 people worldwide.

The festival highlights included a grand Buddhist blessing with monks from Northern California temples or wats, a multi-cultural unity parade, live cultural performances and concert throughout the day.

A main stage showcased a potpourri of modern and traditional acts to engage and entertain all ages and generations. Lao American pop singers as well as cultural performers and artists performed at the plaza stage. The event also featured traditional and culturally esoteric performances from various Lao and other Southeast Asian ethnic groups.

Top attractions also included cultural activities, such as the Lao green papaya salad or tam makk huung making contest and film screenings at the Koret Auditorium in San Francisco’s Main Library.

One of the biggest festival highlights this year was a Live Professional Muay Thai Championship (or Muay Lao as it is known in Laos) Tournament by World Muay Thai Team USA, featuring Ky Hollenbeck and Mariam Nakamoto.

Kru Sam Phimsoutham, chief instructor and owner of World Team USA gym, explained: “Boxing is strictly confined to the use of the hands. Muay Thai is sometimes referred to as ‘the science of eight limbs’ because of the use of the hands, as well as the shins, elbows and knees. While the limbs are primarily used, Muay Thai also uses a clinch when many of the kneeing techniques are implemented.”

The Lao people celebrate their New Year, Pii May (pronounced Pii-My) or Songkan Festival according to the Theravada Buddhist calendar, around April 13, 14 or 15.

Lao people around the world, along with the Burmese, Khmer, Thai, Sri Lankan, and Tai Lue (Dai) of Sipsongpanna in southern Yunnan Province of China consider this occasion to be the most important and biggest traditional festival in the country. Traditionally, it is seen as a day of rebirth, purification and a joyous time for families with well wishes for the upcoming year.

“The Festival is an opportunity for Laotians of all generations to not only learn, but actively participate in the traditions of their heritage,” said Dr. Phoumy Sayavong of the Center for Lao Studies, one of the festival’s co-organizers.

“The festival also represents the coming together of an emerging Lao American community to celebrate an ancestral heritage and to allow us to open our world to a broader general audience,” added Dr. Sayavong.

“It is an opportunity to unite the people from Laos worldwide to celebrate pride in our ancestral heritage, to showcase the best of Lao arts and cultures through collaboration, and to educate the general public about the plight of Lao and Laotian American experience in the United States,” explained Sourichanh (Sirch) Chanthyasack, co-organizers and CEO of the Laotian American National Alliance.

The Center for Lao Studies (CLS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to advance knowledge and engagement in the field of Lao Studies through research, education and information sharing. Visit www.laostudies.org.

The Laotian American National Alliance (LANA) is a 501(c)(3) national non-profit advocacy organization established in 1999 dedicated to advancing the social & economic well-being of Laotian Americans in the United States through civic participation and public policy advocacy. Visit www.lana-usa.org.