Elephant festival draws jumbo crowd

Xayaboury is once again hosting its annual Elephant Festival with 70 elephants and their mahouts taking part this year and entertaining the crowds with a wide range of activites.
The festival, which has been gaining in popularity every year since it first took place in Hongsa district in 2007, featured an impressive opening ceremony on Saturday, with activities underway from February 17 to 28.

The main focus of this year’s event are the various performances staged by the elephants each day, demonstrating both their intelligence and dexterity.
Among the highlights are a baci for the elephants, a Beautiful Elephant contest, and a demonstration of how elephants are trained to perform circus routines.
Visitors can also watch the elephants bathing, take a ride on one, and feed and touch these graceful and stately animals.
The opening procession featured 70 of these majestic beasts, as well as groups of people in traditional dress representing Xayaboury province’s 11 districts and eight ethnic groups.
The opening ceremony was attended by President of the National Assembly, Mrs Pany Yathotou, the Governor of Xayaboury province, Mr Phongsavanh Sitthavong,Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Boua Ngeun Xaphouvong, and officials from the central provinces.
An almsgiving ceremony on Friday was attended by a large group of monks and several hundred visitors. On Sunday, visiting officials rode on elephants through Xayaboury district.
The elephants took centre stage with a special programme of events. They delighted spectators by presenting them with flowers, painting pictures, and playing games. They even danced a pachyderm version of the lamvong. Another highlight of the festival is the colourful street fair with several hundred stalls selling products made locally and in neighbouring countries.
When evening falls the festival grounds come alive with traditional dancing and concerts performed by local schoolchildren, along with boxing bouts and other forms of entertainment.
Provincial Governor Mr Phongsavanh said this was the 13th elephant festival hosted by the province.
It’s considered to be the most important festival in the area as it shines a spotlight on the dwindling elephant population in Laos and teaches the younger generation about the need to protect the shrinking herds.
Elephants are symbolic of Xayaboury province and of Laos, and the country has a long, ingrained association with this iconic animal.
The festival informs people about the value of elephants in days gone by and the ongoing conservation efforts to protect them.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update February 26, 2019)