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 Bun
Pha Wet
Falling
on different dates throughout January - so that people
can exchange invitations with friends and families in
different villages to join in their celebrations - this
festival is a commemoration of the Jataka, the life
story of Lord Buddha as Prince Vestsantara. The story
is recited in temples throughout the country and this
is considered a particularly auspicious time for ordination
as a monk
Magha
Puja
Held
on the night of the full moon in February, this festival
commemorates the original teachings of Lord Buddha given
to over a thousand monks who came spontaneously to hear
him speak. The festival is marked by grand parades of
candle-bearing worshippers circling their local temples,
merit-making, and much religious music and chanting
Boun
Khoun Khao
A
harvest festival celebrated at local temples in March
Boun
Pimai
Lasting
several days in mid-April, this is the celebration of
the Lao New Year and is a combination of merriment and
meditation. Similar to festivals at this time of year
in other Southeast Asian countries - particularly Thailand
- Boun Pimai is celebrated with parades, dancing, singing
and enthusiastic water-throwing. The religious aspects
of the festival are most apparent in Luang Prabang,
where water pouring ceremonies are used at Buddha statues. Temple
compounds are further decorated with small sand Stupas,
offered as merit towards good fortune and health
Visakha
Puja (Vesak)
Chanting,
religious instruction, and candlelit processions highlight
this temple festival held in May in celebration of the
birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha.
Boun
Bang Fai (rocket festival)
With
its origins in pre-Buddhist rain-invoking ceremonies,
this festival in May now coincides with the Lao Visakha
Puja celebrations. Parades, songs, dances and partying
all lead to an explosive climax as huge, ornate, homemade
bamboo rockets are blessed and fired into the skies
to invite the rains. Rocket-makers earn both merit and
honour if their creations fly high. This dramatic festival
is also celebrated in north east Thailand
Khao
Phansaa
Marking
the beginning of the three-month Buddhist Lent, which
commences at the full moon in July and continues until
the full moon in October, this is considered a particularly
auspicious time for Lao men to enter the monkhood and
is marked by numerous ordination ceremonies
Haw
Khao Padap Din
Held
in August it is devoted to remembering and paying respect
to the dead Relatives then present gifts to the monks
who have chanted on behalf of those who have passed
away
Awk
Phansaa (Awk Watsa)
Marking
the end of the three-month Buddhist Lent on the day
of the full moonin October. Monks are at last permitted
to leave the temple and are presented with gifts. One
particularly beautiful aspect is Lai Hua Fai. On the
eve of Awk Phansaa people gather at the nearest body
of water to release dozens of small banana-leaf boats
decorated with candles, incense and small flowers, in
a celebration similar to the Thai Loy Krathong
Bun
Nam (water festival)
In riverside towns such as Vientiane,
Luang Prabang and Savannakhet, the highly competitive
Bun Nam boat races (suang heua) are held during the
same time as Awk Phansaa in October. Smaller communities
sometimes hold these races on National Day on 2nd December
Boun
That Luang
Though
celebrated at many temples around the country, this
festival is traditionally centred at That Luang in Vientiane.
Fairs, beauty contests, music and fireworks take place
throughout the week of the full moon of November, and
end with a candlelight procession (wien thien) around
the temple of That Luang
Lao
National Day Streets strewn with national flags and
banners, processions, parades, and speeches are the
highlights of this celebration in December for the victory
of the proletariat in 1975
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