The good dates !

FESTIVALS AND TRADITIONNAL EVENTS IN LAOS

Travelling in Laos between October and April is very rewarding because after the Buddhist Lent wich ends at the full moon of October many celebrations take place. Here are some important ones

• Wedding: As a foreigner, it’s very common to be invited at a wedding party in Laos. By tradition, as a guest, it’s appreciated to tie banknotes to the couple’s wrists by wishing them a happy life. An orchestra is hired to play traditional and pop music tunes. Rice liquor is served in large quantity.

• In October, after the Buddhist Lent robes are offered to the monks (kathina). Procession of boats carrying offering on the Mekong.
• Full moon of November: in Vientiane, the That Luang festival. Mass offering to monks and novices around the golden stupa, trade fair, traditional games known as tiki (a kind of polo).

  That Luang temple in Vientiane

    

• Ethnic Tai yang New year: celebrated in January/February coinciding with the Chinese New year. Sword dance, songs, offering to the spirits of the deceased parents (wife side).
• All the year around: morning alms of the monks especially important in Luang Prabang, an important center of Buddhism studies.

• In mid-April :
  • The Lao New Year, is the main attraction of Luang Pra Bang
     (watering of the Prabang image,procession).
    Pi Mai, the lunar new year begins in mid-april and practically the entire country comes to halt and celebrates. This festival is particulary picturesque in Luang Prabang where it last longer.

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  Houses are cleaned, people put on new clothes and Buddha images are washed with lustral water. The masks of the Great Ancestors are taken out and dances are performed at Vat Xieng Thong, Vat That. Votive mounds of sand are fashioned in courtyards.
  Later the Lao take to the streets and dowse one another with water, which is an appropriate activity as April is the hottest month of the year. Finally the custom is to free small animals such as birds, fish and tortoises bought at the market, showing by this respect for life and all human being.