Laos is a small country, but many holidays are celebrated here with a special scope. There are 15 holidays a year. These days, state and many private institutions do not work, and the people gather on the streets, arranging colorful processions. Cafes and shops work, but we advise you to familiarize yourself with the schedule. on holidays it is adjusted.
What is celebrated in Laos?
The broadest events are:
- Teth or the Chinese New Year. It is celebrated in Laos by Vietnamese and Chinese communities. The holiday is considered family: relatives gather together at a festive table, prepare national dishes , conduct conversations and share impressions from the past year. Celebrations last 3 days. The brightest carnivals are held in large cities. The streets are decorated with flashlights, flowers and figurines with the symbol of the year. Children are traditionally bought new outfits and gifts, and with the onset of darkness they release a lot of air flashlights and firecrackers.
- Boone Pha Vet is a birth or reincarnation of the Buddha. The exact date this event does not have and in different provinces is celebrated in the period from December to February. The celebration lasts 2 days. Temples are decorated in light colors, there are festive prayers and hymns, and parishioners give monks various treats.
- The Makha Puja is a festival of Laos, when all believers express Buddha's recognition for his teachings. Officially, the event was approved in the XIX century. It is celebrated in the 3rd full moon of the year with a parade of candles. Believers bring candles and treats to the monks in the morning. In large cities ( Vientiane and Champassak), bullfights, dance and vocal festivals are held.
- Boone Pimai is a water festival dedicated to the New Year holidays. It is celebrated from 13 to 15 April with parades and religious processions. On the first day of Boon Pimai, Lao people traditionally put their homes in order, decorating them with flowers and storing aromatic water. The prepared liquid is brought to the temples by the locals to water the statues of the Buddha. The water draining from the statues is collected back into the vessels and carried home, so that on the final day of the triumph it can pour its closest relatives. It is believed that water will bring good luck and will purify karma to everyone who gets it.
- Bun Bang Fai is a festival of rain and rockets. The festival is held in May-June to call rains. The celebration lasts 3 days, during which the Lao people organize feasts, hold festivals in national costumes, organize contests and pray. The festival of rain ends with a volley of hundreds of self-made firecrackers, the best of which are awarded.
- Khao Phansa - the beginning of the post in the length of 3 months (July-October). This period is considered the most prosperous for men who decided to accept monasticism.
- Ok Phansa is the end of fasting, celebrated in October at the full moon. On this day, monks are allowed to leave the temple. The most spectacular event of this day is the ceremony at the reservoirs - hundreds of homemade boats made of banana leaves with lighted candles are released into the water.
- Khao Padap Dean is the day of the memory of the dead, celebrated in the first full moon of August. The holiday is marked by a not very pleasant ceremony: during the day, bodies are exhumed, and at night they are cremated. Traditionally, the relatives of the deceased present gifts to monks who pray for the repose of souls and speak on their behalf.
- National Day of Laos (the holiday is celebrated on December 2). On this day, the streets are decorated with national flags of the country, parades are everywhere, festive music and congratulations.
If you are lucky enough to go to Laos on any of these holidays, then join the celebrators safely. Good mood, bright spectacles, unforgettable emotions will be provided to you.