Lao New Year , called Songkran or Pii Mai The official festival lasts for three days The first day is the last day of the old year. Houses and villages are properly cleaned on the first day. The second day is the "day of no day", a day that falls in neither the old year or the new year. The last day of the festival marks the start of the new year. Traditions in festival are Water is used for washing homes, Buddha images, monks, and soaking friends. Sand is brought to the temple grounds and is made into stupas or mounds, then decorated before being given to the monks as a way of making merit. Another way to make merit at this time is to set animals free. There are gathered to decorate Buddha images. There is an annual beauty pageant in Luang Prabang to crown Miss Pimai Lao (Miss Lao New Year). During Lao New Year, there are many spectacles including traditional Lao music,