LAOS EVENTS & FESTIVALS - BOLIKHAMXAY

LAOS celebrate several annual festivals called " Boun" particularly enjoyable and beautiful aspects of the traditional Lao lifestyle . Most festivals are connected with religion and the yearly rice farming cycle; while the timing of the festivals is calculated according to the Buddhist lunar calendar.

EVENTS & FESTIVALS IN BOLIKHAMXAY

1^ST JANUARY RED WATERMELON FESTIVAL

VENUE : THABOR VILLAGE,BOLIKHAN ‘ DISTRICT

This festival is held to support local farmers , who at this time bring their watermelons to the fair to sell directly to consumers.

11^th 15^th JANUARY ( 15^TH DAY OF 2^ND MONTH OF LUNAR CALENDAR) IN THE MIDDLE  OF JANUARY

BOUN PHA BATH PHONSAN ( PHABATH’ STUPA FESTIVAL)

VENUE : THAPHABATH DISTRICT

This is the most significant event of Bolikhamxay when they celebrate the old stupa and give respect to Buddha’s footprint . The festival consists of a Buddhist ceremony and fair.

15^th DAY OF 3^RD MONTH OF LUNAR CALENDAR ( IN THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARYo

BOUN VAT DAN’ FESTIVAL

This is the annual Buddhist ceremony of “ Dan Soung” Temple, or simply called “ Vat Dan”  - a significant temple in Pakxan District. 

25^th FEBRUARY ( OR THE THIRD LUNAR MONTH OF THE BUDDHIST CALENDAR)

BOUN KHAO CHI ( MAKHA BOUCHA DAY)

A ceremony is held at the “ Vat” ( temple ) in the morning, when special “ bread” made of sticky rice is offered. This festival is held during the third full moon of the lunar calendar.

5^th 25^th MARCH BOUN PHA VET

VENUE : NATIONWIDE

A ceremony of offering donations in order to have one’s future read during the 3 day 3 night festival.

14^th 16^th APRIL LAO’S NEW YEAR “ BOUN PI MAI LAO”

LAO’S NEW YEAR is celebrated at the same time each year (14th -16^th April ) with the 16^th marking the first day of the New Year. On the 14^th, Buddha images are taken out of the temples to be cleansed with scented water by devotees and placed on special temporary alters within the compounds of “Vats” ( temples ). Devotees gather the scented water falling off the images to take home, using it to pour on friends and relatives as act of cleansing and purification before entering the New Year. On the evening of the 16^th, the images are returned to proper shrines within the temples.

11^th – 29^th MAY BOUN BANG FAU ( ROCKET FESTIVAL)

A festival to beg  for rain from “ Pha Ya Thaen” the Prime God and to celebrate the beginning of the rice farming season.

There are many “ Boun Bang Fai” events in many part of Bolikhamxay , but the biggest one is in “ Kuai” village , in Pakxan District.

24^th MAY BOUN VISAKHA BOUCHA DAY

This festival is held during the sixth full moon of the lunar calendar. Candlelight processions are held in temples to mark the birthdate of Buddha.

22^nd JULY ( OR THE EIGHT LUNAR MONTH OF BUDDHIST CALENDAR)

BUDDHIST LENT BOUN ASALAHABOUCHA AND BOUN KHAO PANSA)

This is at beginning of the Buddhist Lent . During the next three month period, monks spend most of their time in prayer and meditation and are restricted from spending nights in other temples other than their own.

4^TH SEPTEMBER BOUN KHAO PADAB DIN ( RICE GROWING FESTIVAL DAY)

At the Khao Padabdinh ceremony day, people visit local temples to make offerings to dead ancestor , as well as to share merit making.

19^th SEPTEMBER BOUN KHAO SALAK ( ANCESTOR FESTIVAL DAY)

This allows for offerings to be made for dead ancestors to obtain merit. Exciting longboat races are held to celebrate the river. This festival is held during the tenth full moon of the lunar calendar.

19^th – 20^TH OCTOBER BOUN ORK PHANSA AND BOAT RACING FESTIVAL

At dawn  on the first day, donation and offerings are made at temples around the city . In the evening , candlelight processions are held around the temples while hundreds of colourful floats decorated with flowers ,incense and candles are set adrift down the river to give thanks to the river spirit.

19^th OCTOBER NAGA ROCKET FESTIVAL ( THAPHABATH DISTRICT)

The fireballs coming out from the water’s surface can be seen once a year on the last night of the Lao Buddhist Lent. The Naga Rockets can be spoted where the Nam Ngum and the Mekong river meet in Thaprabath District, Bolikhamxay Province, as well as in Pak Ngum District, 60 km east of Vientiane Capital.

15^th day of 11 month of lunar calendar ( in the middle of October)

BOUN SOUANG HEUA ( BOAT RACING FESTIVAL)

Tournaments are held to pay respect to the God of River and celebrate the harvest ; the biggest “ Boun Vuang Heua” of Bolikhamxay is in Pakxan District , where NamXan River meets Mekong River.

IN THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER

BOUN KIN CHIENG ( HMONG NEW YEAR FESTIVAL)

VENUE : PHA MUANG VILLAGE , BOLIKHAN DISTRICT , “ KOR HAI ‘- “NA PAE” VILLAGE, KHAMKEUT DISTRICT , “ THONGNAMY “ VILLAGE , PAKKADING DISTRICT.

The New Year of “ Hmong Tribe “ includes many exciting traditional activities.