Top 8 festivals in Luang Prabang – Laos with special events

Festivals in Luang Prabang not only give you a unique experience but also an opportunity to explore the ancient land of Laos.

1. BOUN PHA VET FESTIVAL
Boun Pha Vet Festival (also known as Bun Pha Vet) is one of the most important Buddhist festivals in Laos. Depending on the lunar calendar, the festival usually takes place in January or sometimes February every year. The festival lasts for three days and three nights, honoring the Buddha’s previous life as Prince Vessantara (Pha Vet). It is considered a symbol of compassion and generosity.

Boun Pha Vet Festival is an important Buddhist festival in Laos

During the festival, there will be a ritual of reciting the Pha Vet Sutra. Monks will take turns reciting the entire story of Prince Vessantara’s life. Divided into 13 parts, telling the journey with memorable wooden bones. Since he became king, performed noble acts of charity. Until he achieved enlightenment. The 3-day festival takes place at pagodas throughout Luang Prabang.

2. RICE THANKSGIVING FESTIVAL (BOUN KHOUN KHAO)
One of the festivals in Luang Prabang that takes place annually in the “kingdom of a million elephants” is the Rice Thanksgiving Festival (Boun Khoun Khao). This is an important agricultural festival for people to express their gratitude to the land, weather, gods and ancestors for giving them a bountiful harvest. The festival takes place after the rice harvest, which is around the end of January according to the Lao calendar.

Festival for people to express gratitude for a bountiful harvest

Traditional offerings usually include boiled chicken, wine, tobacco pipes, sticky rice, and sweet and salty foods. The festival is held throughout Luang Prabang. People bring newly harvested rice grains to pagodas to make offerings, performing rituals to pray for abundance and prosperity in the following seasons.

3. BOUN MAKHA BOUSA 
Boun Makha Bousa (also known as Magha Puja) is also an important Buddhist festival in Laos. It will take place on the full moon night of February every year at many pagodas throughout Luang Prabang. This festival is held annually to commemorate the event when the Buddha imparted the Ovadha Patimokha to 1,250 monks. In which, the sermon emphasizes three important principles: not killing (not fishing), doing good deeds, and purifying the mind.

The festival is held to commemorate the event when the Buddha taught Ovadha Patimokha

The highlight of the festival is the sticky rice cake that people make by hand from selected sticky rice. Then dip it in eggs and bake it. These cakes are offered to monks early in the morning as a way to show respect and pray for blessings.

4. LAOS NEW YEAR (BOUN PI MAI LAO)
One of the festivals in Luang Prabang that cannot be missed is Boun Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year). This is an occasion for Lao people to enjoy joy with a series of activities imbued with traditional identity. Lao New Year usually takes place from April 13 to 15 every year according to the Buddhist calendar. The festival also coincides with the hottest time of the year. Therefore, the event is also associated with the water splashing activity as a way to dispel the heat. And according to traditional beliefs, water symbolizes purification and washing away bad luck in the old year.

Boun Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year) with many special activities

Boun Pi Mai usually lasts for three days, many people even spend a whole week on the holiday. And Luang Prabang is one of the most spectacular places to celebrate Lao New Year in the country. On the first day, people will clean their houses, prepare scented water and flowers. In the afternoon, they go to the temple to worship, listen to sermons and participate in the Buddha bathing ritual. Then they bring scented water home to sprinkle on their loved ones with the belief that it will bring good luck.

Besides the water festival, the custom of tying threads on the wrists (Sou Khoan), there are many other activities such as: releasing animals, boat racing, building sand towers and welcoming the Goddess of Spring (Nang Sangkhane).

5. ASCENSION FIREWORKS FESTIVAL (BOUN BANG FAI)

Boun Bang Fai Festival or also known as the Rain Praying Festival

One of the next festivals in Luang Prabang is Boun Bang Fai, the Fireworks Festival or also known as the Rain Praying Festival. This is one of the oldest and most traditional festivals in Laos. It is held in May every year. According to Lao beliefs, this is an occasion for people to send prayers for favorable weather so that plants and animals can flourish, all things can grow and crops can be bountiful. With some typical activities such as: Making and decorating firecrackers, Parades and art performances, firecracker shooting competitions,…

6. BOAT RACING FESTIVAL (BOUN SOUANG HEUA)
The Boat Racing Festival, also known as Boun Souang Heua, is one of the most important and vibrant traditional cultural events in Laos. In Lao, “Boun” means “festival”. And “Souang Heua” means “the end of the Buddhist Lent”. Therefore, this festival is an opportunity for people to have fun, thank the river god. And pray for a favorable crop in the coming season. Usually held at the end of the rainy season (usually around September and October). In the localities along the Mekong River, especially Vientiane and the Nam Khan River in Luang Prabang.

Boun Suang Heua Festival

Boun Suang Heua Festival is an opportunity for Lao people to demonstrate their rowing skills and sportsmanship, connecting the community. In addition, the festival also honors the river culture associated with the legendary Mekong River. In addition, you can participate in many attractive cultural activities. Typical examples include releasing flower lanterns on the river, traditional art performances or local specialty fairs.

7. VEGETARIAN END CEREMONY (BOUN OK PHANSA)
To show gratitude to his mother, Buddha ascended to the Trayastrimsa Heaven and preached the Abhidharma Sutra to Saint Tu Tai. And began the 3-month rainy season retreat. During this time, monks will focus on chanting sutras, reciting Buddha’s name and meditating. Buddhists do good deeds, do not build houses, do not get married, do not establish companies, and do not drink alcohol or smoke. And the Boun Ok Phansa Festival (or the End of Lent Festival), is the event to mark the end of these three months in Buddhism.

Boun Ok Phansa (Full Lent Ceremony) has profound religious significance

Boun Ok Phansa not only has profound religious significance but is also an occasion for the community to gather and participate in sacred rituals. A typical example is the Tatbath (offering) ritual to show respect to the monks. There is also the Okphansa ritual for monks and Buddhists to summarize what they have done in the past 3 months. And the Vieng Thieng ritual is a candle procession around the pagoda. In addition, you will also admire the beautiful candle procession. With hundreds of colorful flower rafts, incense and candles floating along the Mekong River.

8. KHMU NEW YEAR FESTIVAL
The next festival in Luang Prabang is the Khmu New Year Festival. The Khmu are one of the largest ethnic minorities in Laos. Every year, in December, the Khmu celebrate their New Year together. During the festival, people wear traditional costumes. And participate in many traditional folk games of the ethnic group. All families will gather in one place, usually in Khmu villages, to express their gratitude to their ancestors. Everyone prays for good health and peace for the community. And together they enjoy rice wine and food.

Khmu New Year Festival

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