LAOS FESTIVALS& HOLIDAYS

LAOS FESTIVALS& HOLIDAYS

Laos celebrates many annual festivals called “Boun”, which are particularly enjoyable and beautiful ,signifying traditional aspects of Lao style.Most festivals are connected with religion and the yearly rice farming cycle. The timing of the festivals is calculated to the Buddhist lunar calendar.

JANUARY

VAT PHOU FESTIVAL IN CHAMPASAK PROVINCE

This festival is held during the third full moon of the lunar calendar on the grounds of the enchanting pre-Angkorian Vat Phou ruins in Champasak. Festivites include elephant races, buffalo fights, cock fighting and traditional Lao music and dance performances. To coincide with the festival, a trade fair is held to showcase products originating from southern Laos, Thailand , Cambodia and Vietnam.

SIKHOTTABONG FESTIVAL IN KHAMMOUANE PROVINCE

This traditional religious festival is held at Sikhottabong Stupa, located about 8 kilometres to the South of Thakhek town. The stupa was built between the 9^th and 10^th century by King Nanthasene and was restored to its original grandeur during the 1950’s.

BOUN KHAO CHI (MAKHABOUCHA)

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

BOUN KHOUN KHAO OR KHOUN LAN (RICE CEREMONY)

This is a harvest festival held at Songkhon District in Savannakhet Province, Phieng District in Sayaboury Province.A “Basi” ceremony is performed in order to give thanks to the end.

FEBRUARY

ELEPHANT FESTIVAL IN SAYABOURY PROVINCE

As a livng ceremony where a donation is made and one’s future is red during the 3 day 3 night festivals.

APRIL

“BOUN PI MAI’ LAO’S NEW YEAR

Lao New Year is celebrated at the same time each year(14-16 April) .This year, the 16^th is the first day of the New Year. On the 13^th, Buddha images are taken out of the temples to be cleansed with scented water by devotees and placed on special temporary altars within the compounds of the “Vats” (temple). Devotees gather the scented water falling off the images, to take home and use it to pour on friends and relatives ,as an act of cleansing and purification before entering the New Year. On the evening of the 15^th, the images ae returned to their proper shrines within the temples. Boun Pi Mai is a time for much joyous celebration, with good deeds and prayers in anticipation the New Year.

MAY

BOUN BANG FAI (ROCKET FESTIVAL)

A ceremony praying for rain is performed at the temple in the morning. In the afternoon, people gather in fields on the outskirts of villages and towns to launch the rockets with much abandoned revelry. Villages, communities and departments c for the “best decorated “and the “highest travelling” rocket. Beginning around the middle of May, the festivals are staggered from place to place enable more participation and attendance. This is the time when an offering to spirits can be made in a corner of one’s garden, early each morning.

JUNE

BOUN VISAKHABOUCHA

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

JULY

BOUN ASALAHABOUCHA BUN KHAO PHANSA (BUDDHIST LENT)

This is the beginning of the Buddhist Lent.During the next 3 month period, monks spend most of their times in prayer and meditation and are restricted  from spending nights in other “Vats” .This festival is held during the eighth full moon of the lunar calendar.

AUGUST

BOUN KHAO PADABDIN (RICE) AND BOAT RACING FESTIVA IN LUANG PRABANG

At the Khao Padabdin ceremony day, people visit local temples to make offerings to dead ancestors as well as to share merit-making.This festival includes boat racing on the Nam Khan River and a trade fair in Luang Prabang, the world Heritage Town

SEPTEMBER

BOUN OK PHANSA AND BOAT RACING FESTIVAL

The festival held after the end of the monks’ 3 month fast and retreat during the rainy season (KHAO PHANSA).At dawn on the first day, donations and offerings are made at temples around the city. In the evening, candlelight processions are held at temples and hundreds of colourful floats decorated with flowers , incense and candles are set adrift down the Mekong River to pay respect to the rivers spirit. The following day in Vientiane, Savannakhet ,Sayaboury and Champasak Province , a popular and exciting boat racing competition is held to celebrate the Mekong River.

BOAT RACING ESTIVAL IN VIENTIANE CAPITAL

This is held on the Mekong River. At the same occasion a trade fair of agricultural products, local handicrafts. Traditional Lao music and dance performance are organized. In this festival, citizens donate offerings to dead ancestors to gain merit.

BOUN KHATHIN

This festival begins immediately after the last day of Lent and lasts until the next full moon. During the one month period, devotees of the Buddhists faith help the monks to carry out their religious practice by making offerings of all their 9 requisites and other useful items.

NOVEMBER

THAT LUANG FESTVAL AND TRADE FAIR VIENTIANCE CAPITAL

This religious festival is held in and around That Luang Stupa, the National Symbol of Laos, where hundreds of monks gather to accept alms and floral votives from the people. The festival includes a grand fireworks display at night. During the day, an international trade fair, showcasing tourism in Laos and other countries from ASEAN and the Greater Mekong Sub-region is held. During the same period a similar festival is also celebrated at Chieng Teung Stupa in Luang Namtha Province.