Luang Prabang
Luang prabang is concentrated on along finger of land approximately 1Km Long by 300m wide, created by a long bend in the nam Khan River which joins the Mekong at the trip of Peninsula . the Thicker southern end of the peninsula is dominated by a step, forested hill, Phousi ( Scred Hill), crowed by a Buddhist stupa that can be seen for miles around , As City grew it expanded outwards from peninsula to south and east ! 2005 UNESCO world heritage team as a historic Preservation zone !
Boat racing festival:
When the water level of the Khan river has reached its peak, the city of Luang prabang celebrates the boat Race Festival. The long boats which are launched on the occasion objects; the race itself is a ritual which seeks to mollify and cajole the Nagas, who live in glass palace at the bottom of rivers. It is Nagas, fabulous beings, half snake, half man, belonging to Brahman and Buddhist traditions, who control the annual rise and fall of the flood waters and are thus responsible for the fertility of the rice fields...
Almost twenty boats join the race which is started since the early morning until late afternoon. People from all over the country as well as the tourists participate in this festival the race is often held in Nam Khan River where the Mekong Nam Khan meet as the finish point.
This is the merit making to the ancestors by preparing food bring them to the temples since very early morning. We believe that soulspirit is seeking for foodstuff other complementary, it happens once a year. If a member of any family is absent means the soulspirit of their ancestors would be hungry for a whole year another purpose is to thank giving to the lord of Buddha.
Pii Mai Lao Luang prabang (Lao New Year)
Lao New Year is the biggest and most famous of the festivals in Laos, and is one of the Hid Sip Song (12 traditional festivals). The festival is also known as the water festival and it coincides with the end of the dry season and the start of the rains. Luang Prabang is rich in cultural traditions, and is a very popular destination for both international and domestic tourists and this time of year.
April 14th: This is the last day of the old year. In the afternoon, the Phra Phrome parade with people dressed as beautiful, heavenly beings, departs from Wat Xiengthong and makes it was along the peninsula to Wat Thad. The evening is traditionally spent cleansing Buddha images in the temples.
April 15th: Traditional people sepnd today visiting Moungkhoun Island to build sandcastles, and to set free birds and fish in order to gain good merit with the spirits for the upcoming year.
April 16th: On ‘New Year's Day' Bacci ceremonies abound - with people seeking forgiveness and blessings from parents and other elders. Kuang Si Waterfall, Pak Ou Caves and other scenic locations are very popular places to spend the afternoon.
The Land's Ancestors
Three mysterious masks, which , during the rest of the year , are Hidden away in special boxes , are Brought out for the New year festival in a sacred dance , performed from time immemorial , to maintain the balance between drought and rain. These masks represent the Thevada Luang , twon great Protecting Spirit of the city who came down from Heaven with Singkham , A lion cub , which they have adopted as their child, to perform good deeds on earth!
The SAND-Stupa Ceremony
On the third day of the Laotian New year , families, group of friend and workmates gather in a joyful celebration to build sand stupas on the big Sandbank in front of Vat Long Khun. These they decorate with Buddha images, candles, rice flower and symbols of the year. Every grain of sand represents a heavy thought , a bad memory from the year gone by , which will soon be washed away by the swelling waters in the rainy season.
The Ook Pansa festival
When the monk come out of their yearly seclusion at the end of the rainy season , the population celebrates the festival of fireboats. In vat ( temples ) in luang prabang , A rustic temple on the river khan , the Novices construct small shadow theatres out of Bambo and paper , which illuminate the Sim of the temple the whole night long.
Banphasa : Ordination of Novices
Between the ages of 12 and 20, young men enter of the temples as novices for a limited period. The <merit> thus gained it first and foremost dedicated to their mothers. Before the novices are ordained, A SuKhuan ceremony is performed in the house of their parents who the accompany them in a procession to the temple . after Bowing three times-to Buddha . to the Holy scriptures and to the sang gha – the abbot welcome the novices into the community of the temple. The extensive monastic apply only part to the novices;
1/ they must nevertheless abide rigorously by the number of precepts. They much not kill any living being, they much not steal, they much not engage in sexual relations, or lie. Eating and drinking and restricted . they are not allowed to dance , to listen to music , to adorn themselves with flowers, to sleep on soft mattresses or to accept money. This is why they are respected by lay people, including by their parents who, in conversing with them , behave demurely as is expected of anyone visiting monks in their temple.
They can see this some times in Laos ( if they Lucky )