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Event & Festival 2008
Laos cerebrates many annual festivals called "Boun",
which are particularly enjoyable and beautiful,
signifying traditional aspects of Lao lifestyle. Most
festivals are connected with religion and the yearly
rice farming cycle. The timing of the festivals is
calculates according to the Buddhist lunar calendar.
Laos festivals in
September
Boun Khao Salak (Rice)
This is for offerings to be made for dead ancestors to
obtain merit. Popular and exciting longboat-racing
competitions are held to celebrate the River. This
festival is held during the tenth full moon of the lunar
calendar.
Boat Racing Festival in Khammouane Province
This is held on the Sebangfai 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.
Laos festivals in
October
Boun Ok Phansa and Boat Racing Festival
The festival held after the end of the monks’
three-month fast and retreat during the rainy season (Boun
Khao Pansa). 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 colorful floats decorated with flowers,
incense and candles are set adrift down the Mekong River
to pay respect to the river spirit. The following day in
Vientiane, Savannakhet and Champasack Province, a
popular and exciting boat racing competition is held to
celebrate the Mekong River.
Boun Khathin
This festival begins immediately after the last day of
Lent, and lasts until the next full moon. During the one
month period, devotes of the Buddhist faith help the
monks to carry out their religious practice by making
offerings of all their 9 requisites and other useful
items.
Laos festivals in
November
That Luang Festival and Trade Fair in Vientiane 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. During the same
period a similar festival is also celebrated at Ching
Tim Stupa in Luang Namtha Province
Laos festivals in
December
2 December 2008
33 Anniversary of Laos PDR
Hmong New Year in Oudomxay, Xieng Khouang, Luang Prabang
and Vientiane Province (between mid December until
January)
This year, the Hmong New Year celebration features
colorful displays of traditional costumes made from
green, red and white silk and ornate silver jewelry.
Music from traditional Hmong instruments such as the
teun-flute, Hmong-style khene pipe and leave blowing is
enjoyed. Other festivities include the Makkhon
(cotton-ball) throwing ceremony, ox fighting,
spinning-top races and crossbow demonstrations.
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Source: Lao National Tourism Administration
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