Monday, November 9, 2009

That Luang Festival

The That Luang Festival is one of the most important religious holidays held at one of the most important religious sites in Laos during the the three days of the full moon of the 12th month in the Buddhist calendar(November). While still a very important religious event for many Lao who come to give alms to the monks and pray to the Buddha, the activities surrounding the stupa have take on a carnival atmosphere.


On the second day of the festival there is a procession of monks and lay people to the temple. There are also early morning alms giving sessions with the monks but your faithful correspondent did not get out of bed early enough to witness this event.
Lao men in traditional clothing
Novice monks
A school participating in the procession
The scene in front of That Luang
An umbrella of money (I'm assuming she was going to use that money for alms)
On the final night of the festival, people walk around the stupa three times holding candles and incense.
Women must be wearing traditional Lao clothes to enter the temple. Few of the Farang (foreigners) dressed up as nicely as my wife though.



Video of the procession

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