Country celebrates grand Lao New Year, signalling tourism recovery

Millions of people countrywide joyfully celebrated the Lao New Year 2566 as the festivities returned with great fanfare following three years of restrictions because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The official festival took place over three days during April 14-16, though the celebrations in some places lasted longer.

President Thongloun Sisoulith lights candles to honour Buddha images at Vat Ongteu in Vientiane.

In Vientiane, President Thongloun Sisoulith led the public in paying homage to Buddha statues from a shrine at Ongteu temple, which were placed at a specially prepared spot where people could pour scented water on them and wish for luck. There were similar rituals in temples countrywide, with sacred Buddha images placed at special locations where people could pour water on them throughout the three-day festival.
In the northern world heritage site of Luang Prabang, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone led the official opening ceremony, kicking off the country’s biggest festive event at the well-known tourism hotspot.
The annual festival, the longest public holiday in Laos, provides an opportunity for families to get together with relatives and friends for joyful activities such as parties. People spray water on each other and extend reciprocal best wishes.
As in the period before the onset of the pandemic, millions of Lao nationals and foreigners took to the streets and joined water festivals, especially in the main cities, from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Khammuan, Savannakhet and Pakxe, throwing water on each other and passersby.
Such spraying of water, according to traditional belief, washes away bad things along with the outgoing year, and ushers in good luck throughout the incoming year.
During the three-day festivities, members of the younger generation organised Somma, a traditional practice during which children and youngsters ask for forgiveness from their parents and elders for any inappropriate things they may have done over the past year, and extend good wishes to the elders.
As usual, Luang Prabang hosted the  biggest festivities, with events taking place during April 12-17, the longest celebration.
The first day saw the opening of a street fair and the start of the Miss Nang Sangkhane competition.
The second day began with a procession of elephants that made its way from Mai Souvannaphoumaram temple to Xiengthong temple, watched by about 1,000 people. 

Prime Minister Dr Sonexay Siphandone and his wife sprinkle water during the parade of monks and novices in Luang Prabang as part of the Lao New Year celebrations.

The following day, crowds flocked to the morning market fair, and in the afternoon, they headed to the banks of the Mekong river to build sand stupas.
Luang Prabang’s festivities included a series of parades featuring the traditional Pou Yer Yar Yer characters, Nang Sangkhan, and traditional Lao dances.
The colourful parades were organised over two days, with the first proceeding from Mai Souvannaphoumaram temple to Xiengthong temple and returning to starting point the following day.
Officials said 2,600 participants joined 47 processions, including more than 300 monks from important temples. Their presence meant that devotees brought water containing flower petals to sprinkle on the monks as a blessing. They did this in the hope of receiving good fortune in return.
The festivities ended on Monday, when the revered Phra Bang Buddha statue was taken in a colourful procession from the former Royal Palace to Mai Souvannaphoumaram temple, where the public poured water over the statue in an act of cleansing and renewal. This is the only occasion in the year when the Phra Bang is removed from its normal resting place, and Buddha images at all temples are returned to their usual resting places after the new year.

By Patithin Phetmeuangphuan
 (Latest Update April 19, 2023)