The next couple of weekends Thai & Laotions around the world will be celebrating (Songkran) New Year 2012 (Pee Mai=New Year). Wat Prazanimit in North Carolina celebrated this weekend among others. Our family will be going to a couple of temples to celebrate. Almsgiving had good attendance this year. (Even a majority of my family were able to be in attendance-rare sight. Cheers to that!) The temple was packed-with people even sitting outside. It was a warm day too. (click photos for larger size) After almsgiving (begins early in the morning and ends in the afternoon) we head to the outside grounds to celebrate. My favorite part of New Year! There is food, pageant/parade for the New Year, and traditional dancing/music. BTW I reunited with my traditional lao dance teacher!! We became so nostalgic. She was THE BEST teacher. With the pageant also brought back memories. Wayyy back in the old days- haha. I was runne...