Largest Buddha statue unearthed in Bokeo to get public airing

The Lao Buddhist Fellowship Organisation in Tonpheung district, Bokeo province​, is organising a public parade of the largest Buddha statue found so far during ongoing excavations in Bokeo.

The largest Buddha statue found during excavations in Bokeo province last week.   --Photo Saona Studio

The two-metre-high statue came to light last week when it was excavated from a sandy area near the Mekong River in Tonpheung district.
The Buddha image will now be unveiled to the public, with a parade to take place on Wednesday May 22 starting at 4pm, when the statue will be taken from its current location at a pavilion by the Mekong River to Thongthip Phatthanaram temple in Yaitonpheung village.
On May 18-19, provincial authorities supervised the excavation of another 22 Buddha statues, according to the Bokeo newspaper.
The excavations were set in motion following the discovery on March 11 of the head of a Buddha image and several small headless images while workers were carrying out road repairs near Thongthip temple. The head of the statue was found in sand being used by the construction company.
Most Buddha images are made of bronze. They have all been taken to Thongthip Phatthanaram temple in Yaitonpheung village for safekeeping, where they are being closely guarded. ​
Most of the statues appear to be in perfect condition, and are believed to date back to the time when a town named Souvanna Khomkham occupied the site.
In the past the area was relatively low as it was located near the river and with the passage of time became covered in sand so that numerous religious artefacts were buried, according to the Heritage Department​ at the Ministry​ of Information,​ Culture and Tourism.
The town of Souvanna Khomkham was destroyed and rebuilt several times by different rulers before it was finally abandoned.
The site still bears the evidence of a former civilisation and the remains of 44 structures made from bricks and sand can be seen, believed to be temples, stupas and statues. These archaeological remains mostly date back to the era when Laos was the Kingdom of Lane Xang, although the town was first established over 1,600 years ago, according to the Lao website www.tourismlaos.org.
However, over the years these have been raided by looters from both Thailand and Laos.
One of the most special finds was one of the largest Buddha statues ever to be discovered in Laos or Southeast Asia, measuring 7.1 metres wide with a height of 7.22 metres. Each shoulder is 1.1 metre wide and the distance from the hip to the knee is 3.6 metres.
There are also other structures, which may have been part of the city of Chiang Saen built by the Mekong River during the reign of King Saysetthathirat. But the city was destroyed by invading forces from Myanmar and today only traces of its glorious past remain.
The site is preserved for study by students and scientists, and is also a tourist attraction due to the fascination with its mysterious past, according to the Luangnamthatourism.org website.

By Times​ Reporters​
 (Latest Update May 21, 2024)