LAOS EVENTS & FESTIVALS -OUDOXMAY

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 OUDOXMAY

Khumu New Year Festival ( January – February) 

Venue: Meuang Xay, Meuang La, Meuang Hoo, Meuang Beng and Meuang PakBeng District

This festival is celebrated at conclusion of the rice harvest season, the main purpose of the celebration is to thanks the spirit of the land to ensure the standard  of living, a better life and a good yield for the next harvest season.

HMONG NEW YEAR ( DECEMBER – JANUARY)

VENUE : MEUANG XAY, MEUANG LA, MEUANG HOO, MEUANG BENG AND MEUANG PAK BENG DISTRICT

This festival occurs just after the rice harvest season; the main purpose of the festival is to celebrate all the successful family business that the Hmong people have done in the past year to ensure a better life in the future. Games are played between men and women by throwing a small ball to each other, Hmong Khaen blowing , as well as dancing , flute playing and hmong traditional singing.

22^nd- 26 MARCH , BOUN PHOU THAT STUPA FESTIVAL CELEBRATION

VENUE : XAY DISTRICT

The festival or ceremony take 3 days and 3 nights to celebrate, people will give offerings, such as food , to monks in the morning of the third day.

14^th – 16^th APRIL, BOUN PI MAI LAO “ Lao New Year”

Venue : Meuang La, Meuang Hoo, Meuang Beng and Meuang Pak Beng District.

The Boun Pimai New Year Festival , beginning mid April, lasts for 3 days. Held before the onset of the rainy season, it recognizes the important of water in people’s lives. It’s also a purification festival during which Buddha images in the household and the temples are ritually cleaned with sacred water. The water from cleaning ceremonies is then poured or splashed by people on to each other to bring them luck for the upcoming year.

20^th – 25^th APRIL , ROCKET FESTIVAL ( BOUN BANG FAI)

VENUE: MEUANG XAY, MEUANG LA, MEUANG HOO DISTRICT

Rocket festival, or Boun Bang Fai , is held in mid April just before the rainy season. The celebration includes Lao Street  dancing , music , drinking , playing with water in the streets, as well as rocket firing. Rockets are fired to tempt the gods to bring rain for rice fields.

22^nd July BOUN KHAO PHANSA (BUDDHIST LENT)

VENUE : MEUANG XAY, MEUANG LA DISTRICT

This is the beginning of the 3 month long Buddhist Lent. All monks stop travelling and stay temple for praying and meditation. It’s also a time for the ordination of men entering monkhood.

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

VENUE : MEUANG XAY, MEUANG LA DISTRICT

This ceremony is an offering to the Ancestor Spirits. It is a tradition than at this time of the year, those spirits are believed to have been released from the “ plain of hell” to receive offerings . It is followed by Boun Haw Khao Salark , 15 days later , which is the day when offerings are made to the Ancestor’s spirit on their last day before returning to the afterlife; this is the day they can take the offerings and prayers with them.

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

VENUE : MEUANG  XAY , MEUANG LA DISTRICT

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

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

Held on the full moon marking the end of the rainy season, monks who were ordained for the 3 month lent period are able to 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.

14^th -17^th NOVEMBER BOUN SOUANG HEUA ( BOAT RACING FESTIVAL )

VENUE: MEUANG LA , MEUANG HOON DISTRICT

Boat racing festival , Boun Soung Heua, is an important part of the traditional agriculture cycle. The festival is a tribute to the Naga (mythical snake) with the intention of attracting the Naga from the flooded rice fields and into the river. This festival also commemorate the end of the rainy season , bringing luck for a abundant harvest.

10^th -15^th DECEMBER AKHA NEW YEAR

The celebration is just after the rice harvest season.The purpose of the festival is to celebrate all the successful things that the Akha people have done in the past year, as well as to ensure a better life and living standard for the future. The activity includes playing games between men and women, traditional Akha dancing and singing and flute playing.

as vien tian. Here in Bokeo, this is a special festival and late in the evening, the locals build large bonfires at the temples.