It's Southeast Asia New Year Time

I caught these three basically identical statements to three countries and am trying to figure it out. Is the "New Year" a national celebration or a religious one?

Songkran Festival - Thai New Year

Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State, Washington, DC

April 11, 2011

On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I send best wishes to the people of Thailand as you celebrate the Songkran Festival and the Thai New Year in the coming days.

Khmer New YearKhmer New Year

Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State, Washington, DC

April 11, 2011

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of the Kingdom of Cambodia as you celebrate the Khmer New Year in the coming days.

Lao New Year

Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State, Washington, DC

April 11, 2011

On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I am delighted to send congratulations to the people of Laos as you celebrate the New Year in the coming days.

If religious, why three separate statements? Are they really national rather than religious festivals?

____________

P.S.

I posted to soon. Now look:

Bengali New Year - Poila Boishakh Message
Press Statement

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateWashington, DC

April 11, 2011

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I send my best wishes to all Bengali-speaking people around the world as you celebrate Poila Boishakh in the coming days

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