LAOS EVENTS & FESTIVALS - PHONGSALY

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 PHONGSALY

KHMU NEW YEAR   10^TH -15^TH JANUARY

Each Khmu village celebrates their New Year ( Boun Greu) at a different date. In Phongsaly town, these festivities are organized only every three year ( the next year celebration most likely occurring in 2021)

HOR NEW YEAR    5^th – 15^th Februarys

During this time Phongsaly town  resonates with the sound of firecrackers . This is the only time of year the Hor Temple is open to the public. In the villages, the Tai Yang and Tai Deng people also hold their New Years celebration during this time ( same date as the Chinese New Year)

THE LAO NEW YAR ( PI MAI LAO) 14^TH -16^TH APRIL

Celebrated by Lao and Phou noy people in  mid April ( during the full moon) , the Lao New Year is also known as the “ water festival” . so be prepared to get wet! The festival allows you to leave behind all the bad things  from the past year and provide good luck for entering the New Year . In addition to visiting the temples and making offerings to their ancestors, people gather for the rocket festival and different villages compete for the highest (often self made) rocket . The PhuFa is stupa Ceremony is also held at this time in order to make offerings to Buddha and the spirits of the forest.

OCTOBER 19^TH – 20^TH BOAT RACING FESTIVAL ( BOUN SOUANG HEUA)

This festival is organized every year in Muang Khua to mark the end of Buddhist lent ( which occurs on the day of the full moon in October)