LAOS EVENTS & FESTIVALS - VIENTIANE PROVINCE

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 VIENTIANE PROVINCE

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.

23^rd -25^th FEBRUARY ( OR THE THIRD LUNAR MONTH OF THE  Buddhist CALENDAR)

Doneko Stupa is located in Nathong Village, Phonhong District . It is the historic and culturally rich tourist site. It was built over 500 years ago. Their famous attraction is the big rocket which is worshipped and respected by local people. Annually, they celebrate the Donekeo Stupa during this 3 day and 3 night festival in mid February.

23^rd -25^th FEBRUARY 9 OR THE THIRD LUNAR MONTH OF THE BUDDHIST CALENDAR)

BOUN PHA THAT MALAR ( MALAR STUPA FESTIVAL)

Pha That Malar Stupa is located in Nakhong village within Thoulakhom district . It is a beautiful stupa built in the same era that King Saysetthathilath  built  the That Luang stupa. In that time Phuan ethnicities had brought the materials for sharing the construction of the That Luang Stupa, but unable to reach in time because the way was too far. Upon realizing that That  luang had been already completed, they had built the stupa to the left of Nam Ngum riverside before returning home. They called this stupa, Malar Stupa which means “ come late “. They always celebrate the Malar Stupa during this 3 day and 3 night festival in mid February.

5^th – 25^th MARCH  BOUN PHA VET

A ceremony for offering donations in order to have one ‘s future read during the 3 day and 3 night festival.

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

VENUE : VANGVIENG DISTRICT

Boun Pimai New Year Festival begins in mid April and lasts for 3 days .Held before the onset of the rainy season, it recognizes the importance of water in people’s lives. It’s also purification festival during which Buddha images in the household and the temples are ritually cleaned with sacred water. People then pour or splash the water from cleaning ceremonies onto each other to bring them luck for the coming year; it is also the time when the “ Miss New Year Beauty Contest” is shown.

14^th -16^th APRIL BOUN BANG FAI ( ROCKET FESTIVAL)

VENUE : PHON MEE VILLAGE, VIENGKHAM DISTRICT

The rocket festival in Vietiance province is an exciting , noisy and colourful festival. It is an event that is meaningful and important within the region of people from Vientiance Province, as well as throughout the country. It held at the end of April until Mid May during the hot season. The purpose of the festival  to ask for rain from the sky gods; the rain is necessary to help the rice and other crops to grow. Villagers send rockets up to the sky gods, so they will provide the rains.

24^th MAY BOUN VISAKHA BOUCHA DAY

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

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

This marks the beginning of the Buddhist Lent. During the next 3 month period, monks spend most of their time in prayer and meditation and are restricted from spending nights in temples other than their own.  

4^th SEPTEMBER BOUN KHAO PADAB DIN AND BOAT RACING FESTIVAL

VENUE : THOULAKHOM DISTRICT

At the Khao Padabdin ceremony day , people visit local temples to make offerings to dead ancestors , as well as to share merit making . They also hold boat racing competitions in the same day on the Nguem River.

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

This is for offerings to be made for dead ancestors to obtain merit. Additionally, exciting longboat racing competitions 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 ( END OF BUDHIST LENT)

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 and hundreds of colourful floats decorated with flowers , incense and candles are set adrift down the river giving thanks to the river spirit.

27^th – 30OCTOBER BOUN SOUANG HEUA ( BOAT RACING FESTIVAL)

VENUE : BAN KUEN VILLAGE, THOULAKHOM DISTRICT

Opening the season of Boat Racing Festival , the people who live along the Nam Ngum riverside hold Boun Souang Heua. The festival is exciting , colourful and noisy because other villages join in the competition with their own boats. There are 2 types of boat used , the “ Customs Boat’ and the “ Formula Boat”, as well as male and female teams . Villages have boat displays , competition and also practices before attending the national boat racing competition at the Tha Vat Chanh Temple riverside area in Vietntiane. It is held during the Boun Ork Phanh Sa ( End of Buddhist Lent Festival ) every year. They will repeat the festival again for closing the season.

25^th DECEMBER – 15^TH JANUARY BOUN KIN CHIENG ( HMONG ETHNIC’S NEW YEAR)

Boun Kin Jieng or Hmong ethnic’s new year festival is held at the end of December to mid January every year, lasting about one month. There are many activities within this festival including: singing, Bull hitting, dancing, trade exhibition and food arrangement. One important activity that cannot be left out is Mark Khone Throwing ( Mark Khon is similar to a tennis ball); the purpose of this activity is to demonstrate love for each other Young boys and girls wear the unique clothes of Hmong people during this time – a highlight of the festival.