A street scene during the Lao New Year celebrations in Luang Prabang.(File Photo Teng)

Luang Prabang gears up for Lao New Year festivities

A colourful programme of events is being prepared for the annual celebration of Lao New Year (Pi Mai Lao) in Luang Prabang, with a range of activities planned from April 11-20.
The official Pi Mai Lao holiday is April 14-16, but in Luang Prabang the festivities last for much longer and are a top draw for foreign visitors.
The festival will kick off with the opening of a street fair and the Miss Lao New Year (Nang Sangkhan) contest at the That Luang field on April 11-12.
This will be followed by an elephant procession from Vat Mai temple to Vat Xiengthong temple on April 13.
On April 14, Buddha images will be taken out of temples for devotees to sprinkle with water in an act of reverence, and people will gather to build sand stupas on Xaymoungkhoun Island in the Mekong River, to bring good luck.
On April 15, provincial leaders and other dignitaries will attend a traditional ceremony staged by the Leu ethnic group in Phanom village, while the Miss New Year procession will take place on Sisavangvong Road and devotees will continue to pour water over Buddha images at temples around the city.
On April 16, a grand almsgiving ceremony will be held at Vat Saen temple, attended by 300 monks, and people will offer prayers at the Chomsi stupa at the top of Phousi hill in the town centre.
On April 17, the venerated Prabang Buddha statue will be carried in a stately procession from the Hor Prabang to Vat Mai temple and provincial leaders will go to Tham Ting cave to pour water over the Buddha images inside.
The Prabang Buddha statue and other Buddha images will remain at Vat Mai temple on April 18-19 so that people can come to worship and sprinkle water over the revered golden replica of Buddha before it is carried back to the Hor Prabang on April 20.
Luang Prabang is a top tourist destination year round but receives the greatest number of visitors over Pi Mai Lao when people flock to the town to observe the special traditions on display and share in street parties.
The town is easily accessible by road, air or rail transport.
Luang Prabang is one of the most well-known provinces in Laos and is popular because of its riverside location, old temples, quaint streets and alleyways, and scenic beauty.
The city’s old quarter was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1995 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update March 20, 2025)