お祭り   Season Festivals Description January Boun Phra Vet / Boun Mahaxat / Boun Kathin "Boun Phavet" is celebrated aft the harvest season. It is celebrated with monks reciting the "Jataka" tale of Buddha' life called "Phravetsandone". According to Buddhist element, this religious occasion is celebrated to commemorate the birth, death and enlighten of Buddha. It is also an occasion for senior abbots to ordain new monks Boun Kathin Offers an opportunity to donate objects to monks and to temples. Buddhist adherents believe that in offering gifts to monks or temples, their good deeds will follow them into next lives, or that would bring them merit. Usually, organizer host of the event hires musicians to entertain guests. "Kong kathin" were then brought to the temple in a large procession, either by foot or by truck. April Pi Mai From the washing of religious icons to the drenching of friends and strangers, water is central to "Pi Mai Lao" or Lao New year celebrations. Wander to through temple compounds as worshippers pour perfumed water over Buddha images-and each other. Three days in mid-April are official public holidays. May Boun Bang Fai On the verge of planting season, the Rocket Festival or "Boun Bang Fai" is held to coax rain and fertility back to the earth. bamboo rockets adorned with brightly colored decorations area carried to the launch pad in rowdy procession. Celebrants paint their face or wear wild masks and outlandish costumes. All come to enjoy Lao music, dance and drama-especially the bawdy maw lam- at its most playful. July to October Khao Phansa / Khao Watsa "Khao Phansa" is the firs day of the Buddhist Lent, which is held from full moon in July to full moon in October. During this time of austerity, monks fast and Buddhist adherents make offerings to gain merits. Early in the morning on the first day of Lent, people flock to temples carrying silver bowls full of offerings and gifts to offer to monks. Beauty of Laos is being displayed by hundreds of women in vividly colored silks-keel row upon row at "Phra That Louang". August Boat Raceig Festival, Luang Prabang This festival will include boat races on the Mekong River and a trade fair in Luang Prabang city; during the Khao Salak festival, citizens will visit local temples to make offerings to the dead in order to share merit with them. September Boat Raceig Festival, Champassak This festival is held in association with Ok Pansa, which marks the end of the monks three-month fast and retreat during the rainy season; a long-boat racing competition is held in order to worship the river spirits. September Boat Raceig Festival, Kammouan This festival will be held in Sebangfai District, and will include exciting boat races on the Sebangfai River, a trade fair of agricultural products and local handicrafts, and traditional Lao music and dance performances; at the same time, citizens will make offerings to the dead in order to share merit with them. October Boat Raceig Festival, Vientiane In Vientiane, the water festival held during Ok Pansa is spectacular; on the first day at dawn, donations and offerings are made at temples around the city; in the evening, candlelight processions are held around the temples, and hundreds of colorful floats decorated with flowers, incense and candles are set adrift down the Mekong River in thanksgiving to the river spirits; the next day, a popular and exciting boat racing competition is held on the Mekong. September to October Khao Padap Din "Khao Padap Din" is celebrated to commemorate our ancestors which falls on the 15th day of the waning moon of the ninth month (September or October). The date coincide with the middle of the rainy season, when the land is lush with greenery and fruits. Worshiper flock to the temples with trays of offerings for monks and deceased ancestors. Music was performed after religious worship, within the temple grounds, to provide atmosphere while people make donations. October Ho Khao Salak During Lent, monks remained inside "wat" or temples. They area not allowed to wander outside or traveling. Worshipers then prepare package of donations for months. The content include saffron robes, personals items, candles, incense and other items that are otherwise prohibited. Then packages are collected in the common area of the villages, usually part of the temple. October to November Ok Phansa "Boun Ok Phansa" - the final and most important day of Lent- also features an early morning temple ceremony. After dusk, candlelight procession grace temple grounds and buildings glow with candle burning in honor of Buhhda. Also after dusk, "Lai Heua Fai" (or Loi Kathong for Thai people who celebrate this event in December), a river ceremony during which small hand-made boats area floated downriver by people praying and making vows. The candlelit rafts bob away into darkness, symbolically dismissing bad luck, disease, and bad deeds. October Boun Souang Heaua Held the day after "Ok Phansa", "Boun Souang Heua" or the Boat race festival draws crows of excited spectators to the Mekong River . Thirty to fifty members teaming wooden longboats row to the rhythm of drums as they compete for the coveted trophy. The most popular piece of performed at the boat racing festival was pheng seung. November Boun That Luang It is the major festival in Laos. Held during glaring full moon in November, the "That Luang" (Royal Stupa) festival is celebrated in honor of Laos' national shrine. The festival begins with a morning prayer and alms giving ceremony on the first day of the three days festival. Masses of faithful worshipers come to pay homage to the hundreds of monks gathered at "That Luang". This ceremony, like "Khao Phansa", is solemn yet colorful.