Laotians pray for good luck in 'Pi Mai' New Year celebrations In the normally sleepy UNESCO-listed city of Luang Prabang, raucous Lao New Year celebrations draw thousands as people watch Buddhist monks and young Lao girls pray at pagodas. Colourfully dressed revellers march in processions and worshippers carve on the sandy banks of Mekong river knee-high sand stupas known as 'Toppathatsay' decorated with images of beloved monks and holy flowers. IMAGES