FORT WORTH, Texas — Every year in April, the Buddhist temple in Fort Worth is filled with people inside and out.
Wat Lao Thepnimith of Fort Worth, also known as Wat Saginaw, is often a yearly destination for Laotians across the country. The temple hosts the largest Lao New Year celebration in the United States, called Pi Mai.
"It's a very big celebration over here. People from all over the country," said Phayvanh, a monk at the temple.
The morning starts with a ritual that dates to the 14th century. People fill the sanctuary as monks chant in a ceremony. Immediately after, the monks step outside. Lines of people of all generations wait to give offerings of food and money to the monks. The monks circle back inside the temple to complete the ceremony.
As the formal ceremony comes to an end, the sound of music and excitement grows outside the Buddhist temple. Tens of thousands of people fill the street surrounding Wat Saginaw as a parade begins.
Vicki Nguyen, a Laotian American in Haltom City, stood across the street from the temple eagerly waiting for the parade to begin. She said it's become an event for so many, beyond Laotians, to enjoy. She's been attending since she was a child.
"It's now more cultural. There are so many different minorities here and it has grown to one of the largest events every year out of the whole nation."
Nguyen now brings her husband and two daughters to enjoy the festivities. Her family flies in for the event too.
"I have family members come from California, Canada, and Oklahoma specifically for this," said Nguyen.
This year, there were more than a dozen floats in the parade, led by the monks.
The Lao Women of Saginaw danced in the parade after the first float with the monks. Susan Nipharack said, "We want the kids when they're young, they can see old people's customs."
She said the Lao New Year has always been a major event since she was a child growing up in Laos.
Nipharack said, "I'm proud to be Laos." This is her favorite event of the year.
Water is a big part of this New Year parade. It's a sign of longevity, peace, and fortune. It is poured on the Buddha statue, the monks and the elderly as a respectful way to bless each other in the new year.
During the parade, the water traditions have grown into water guns, hoses, and buckets. People embrace the beauty of water in Laotian culture and have a lot of fun with it.
It's unclear when, but shaving cream and bubbles started becoming part of the ritual too. People of all ages have cans of shaving cream ready to smear it on others.
The parade circled around the neighborhood near the temple. Music and laughter echo through the streets. After about two hours, the monks on their float returned to the entrance, all in celebration.
Texas has the second-highest population of Laotian Americans in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth area has become the third most Laotian-populated city. Saginaw and Fort Worth are where many live.