LAOS EVENTS & FESTIVALS -CHAMPASAK

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 CHAMPASAK

22^nd - 25^th February (or the third lunar month of the Lao calendar) BOUN VAT PHOU ( VAT PHOU FESTIVAL)

This is the largest festival in the province and one of the largest in the entire country. This festival attracts thousands of people each year, who gather at the base of the ancient Vat Phou Temple for prayer ceremonies and to enjoy the festivities.

25^th FEBRUARY BOUN MAKA BOUCHA

This festival is held on the full moon to commemorate the speech given by the lord Buddha to 1250 enlightened monks that had had gathered spontaneously and without prior notice. In the evening , the faithful visit local temple and walk around the vat three times with candles in a ceremony known as vien tian.

25^th FEBRUARY BOUN KHAO CHI

A special offering of sticky rice is coated with eggs then roasted is given to monks. This ceremony is associated with Maka Bousa.

14^th  - 16^th APRIL LAO NEW YEAR ( BOUN PI MAI LAO)

This is the biggest celebration of the year throughout the country and is a fun event to take part in. During the New Year, people pertake in a ritual of splashing water and powder on each other in what seems to be a giant water fight.
The New Year celebration officially last 3 days, however , many children eager to start the water throwing begin celebrating early. On the second day people go on a pilgrimage from temple to temple , making offerings to each. Annual village celebrations also occur during April, not necessarily coinciding with the official New Year’s holiday. Be advised that during Pi Mai Lao most businesses and government offices are closed.

24^th MAY BOUN VISAKHA BOUSA ( VSAKHA BOUCHA DAY)

This festival celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the lord Buddha . It is held on the 15^th day of sixth lunar month. Beautiful candlelit processions take place in the evening.

MAY –JUNE ROCKET FESTIVAL ( BOUN BUNG FAI)

During this exciting festival, giant rocket constructed out of bamboo are sort into the sky making quite a spectacular site and a lot of loud bangs. Each village traditionally parades its rocket to the temple first, making offerings , before setting it into the sky.

22^nd JULY BOUN KHAO PHANSA ( BUDDHIST LENT)

This festival held on the full moon, marks the beginning of Buddhist lent, a three month period where monks are required to stay within their vat ( temple) to mediate and focus on drama studies. Lao men are traditionally ordained as monks during this time.

4^th SEPTEMBER BOUN KHAO PADAP DIN ( RICE GROWING FESTIVAL DAY)

Special offering are made to the deceased on the new moon on the 9^th lunar month.

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

Offerings , including daily necessities such as books , pens , sugar and coffee are made to specific monks based on lottery system. Laypeople also give beautiful wax flower candles to the monks to gain merit.

19^th OCTOBER BOUN ORK PHANSA ( END OF BUDDHIST LENT)

Held on the full moon that marks the end of the rainy season, monks who were ordained for the 3 month lent period leave the vat to reunite with their families. During the evening of Van Ork Pansa, in a charming ceremony , small banana leaf boats called heua fai are launched on rivers with offerings of incense, candles and small amounts of money to bring luck and prosperity.

20^th-21^st OCTOBER BOAT RACING FESTIVAL ( BOUN SOAUNG HEUA)

This festival follows Boun Ork Pansa and is celebrated throughout the province ( in addition to other provinces in Laos) . Teams from each village and each district compete with each other, racing in long boats that seat up to twenty paddlers. Pakse is typically the location of the first boat races in the province and where the largest races occur between district teams.

After the Parkse races , each district opens its own competition between village teams , making this festival go on for days, throughout the province.