Bendigo's Karen community will celebrate the traditional new year Thingyan Water Festival on Easter Saturday at Neighbourhood House in Strathdale.
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Community leader Venerable Moonieinda said the festival was often celebrated in parts of Asia by participants roaming the streets splashing each other with containers of water but Bendigo's version would be more low key.
"(Here) we just wash our hands using special water and forgive all the mistakes that we did (throughout the year) and do good things for each other," he said.
"The older people bless the water for the younger people."
He said the focus would be on traditional food and dancing with more than 200 people expected to attend from across the state.
"At the afternoon session we go to Lake Eppalock and we release birds and fish, not only for our community but around the world," he said.
He said the day would also celebrate the success of a permit application for a new community centre in Eaglehawk.
"We just got a permit last weekend so we'll celebrate at the same time as the water festival," he said.