ຖູພື້ນ

सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि

Shoes are strictly forbidden inside Lao homes. Because people walk in socks or barefoot, the floor must be mopped frequently to prevent the soles of the feet from getting black. Cleaning the temple floor (ຖູພື້ນສິມ) is considered a way to make merit (het boun). It symbolizes cleaning one's mind of impurities. During Pi Mai, houses undergo a deep clean. Mopping the floor with perfumed water (nam ob) is a common tradition to welcome the new year. In traditional wooden houses, mopping was often done with a damp coconut husk to give the wood a natural shine and protection.