Festival or “Boun” in Lao language is part of Lao culture. Most of the Lao festivals are linked to religion and agricultural season such as the yearly rice farming cycle. Festivals in Lao are cerebrated according to the Buddhist lunar calendar. Calendar in Lao is a combination of Sino-Vietnamese and Thai-Khmer calendars. The calendar months are divided according to lunar phases. Similar to the Chinese, Lao also named each of the years after an animal.

That Inhang Festival in Savannakhet Province

Wat Phou Festival in Champasack Province

Sikhottabong Festival in Khammouane Province

Boun Khao Chi (Makhaboucha)

Boun Khoun Khao (Rice Ceremony)

Boun Pha Vet

Boun Pimai or Lao’s New Year (14-16 April 2007)

This lunar new year is major festival and is celebrated by the entire country, it is one of the most important festival celebrated by Lao. The date is the same for every year. During this time (on the 13th), the Buddha Images are taken out of temple and are cleansed with lustral water by devotees. The water will then be taken home and splash on their relatives and friends. An act which is deemed appropriate as to “clean” and “purify” each other before entering the New Year, besides it also pleasurable and “refreshing” as April is the hottest month in the country.

This is one of the joyous moment for all the Lao people, this festival is particularly colorful is Luang Prabang where the attraction include elephant parade. On the 15th evening, the Buddha Images will then be returned to their original shriners inside the temples. Similar festival can also be seen celebrated in the neighbor countries include Thailand (Songklan), Myanmar and Combodia.

Labor Day

Visakha Puja

Boun Bang Fai (rocket festival)
It is a rain-making festival. Rockets are made from bamboo and are fired to the sky by its builder to initiate raining season from the heaven for the rice field. Those who failed to launch the rocket will be punished and being thrown to the mud. Plenty of music, dance performance and parade on show during this 2 days event.

Children’s Day

Boun Asalahaboucha and Boun Khao Pansa (Buddhist Lent)
The festival is held on the eighth full moon of the lunar calendar. This is the start of the Buddhist Lent in which monks are required to pray and meditate most of the times over a three months period. They are restricted from spending night at other temples. Besides, this is also the usual for ordination and for men to enter into temporarily monkhood.

Haw Khao Padap Din (full moon)
During the ceremony day, people visit temples to pay respect to the dead, its include make offering to the dead ancestors. During this time also the monks will chant for the deceased. This festival also include boat racing (Nam Khan River) and trade fair in the town of Luang Prabang

Boun Khao Salak (Rice)
This is the festival is held during the tenth full moon of the lunar calendar. It was held to offer the dead ancestors to gain merit. Other activities include boat racing at the nearby rivers.

Awk Phansaa
This celebration marks the end of the Buddhist Lent and three-month rains retreat. Similar to the Loy Krathong festival in Thailand, a small banana leaf boats loaded with candles, incense and other offerings are set afloat on the rivers on the eve of the Awk Phansaa festival.

Boun Nam (water festival)
Boun Nam is also held in association with Awk Phansaa, Major towns such as Vientiane, Luangprabang and Savannakhet will have boat races at the river, the boat race is also refer to suang heua in Lao.

Boun Khathin
Begins after the last day of Buddhist Lent for a period of one month until next full moon.

Boun That Luang
This is a religious festival held at That Luang Stupa in Vientiane. Early in the morning, hundreds of monks are gathered to receive alms and floral votives from the devotees. The celebration include colourful procession, music, beauty pageants  and grand fireworks display at night. Besides, the celebration also include an international trade fair, tourism showcase of Laos. Similar Festival is also celebrated in Ching Tim Stupa in Luang Namtha Province.

 

Lao National Day
This year marks the 32nd Anniversary of Lao.P.D.R

Hmong New Year ( celebrated in Oudomxay, Xieng Khouang, Luang Prabang and Vientiane Province)
Celebration held from mid December until Jan. Hmong New Year celebration will features colorful displays of traditional costumes and ornate silver jewelry. Not to be missed are music from traditional Hmong instruments such as the teun-flute, Hmong-style khene pipe and leave blowing.