This celebrates the 1975 victory of the proletariat over the monarchy with parades, speeches, etc. Lao National and communist hammer and sickle flags are flown all over the country. Celebration is mandatory, hence poorer communities postpone some of the traditional Ok Phansa activities-usually practiced roughly a month earlier-until National Day, thus saving themselves considerable expense. […]
Boun Ok Phansa (Candlelight Festival) This festival marks the end of Buddhist Lent, a period during which monks observe three months of fasting and seclusion. People visit local temples to make offerings and receive blessings. In Luang Prabang, a candlelight procession takes place in the evening, culminating at Wat Xieng Thong, where the candles are […]
This festival occurs during the 10th full moon of the lunar calendar. The purpose of the festival is to obtain merit by providing offerings to dead ancestors. The offerings to the dead are passed to monks during the morning ceremony at the temple, just after almsgiving. A basket is filled with food and daily amenities […]
