Revealing Special Significance Through Festivals In Laos

As a nation where Buddhism is regarded as the official religion, Laos observes numerous traditional festivals and public holidays almost every month of the year. The Laotian people celebrate Laos festivals, or boun, which are mostly associated with ancient Buddhist feasts or agricultural seasons with a solar-lunar hybrid calendar. Immersing oneself in these festivals during a visit to Laos is a great way to gain insights into Lao culture and its way of life.

In this article, let’s check out the following famous festival in Laos and get ready to party in the “country of millions of elephants”!

Get Immersed In Lao Festivals: A Wonderful Way To Learn About Lao Culture

The calendar used in Laos mixes lunar and solar phases, with lunar phases separating the months and solar phases indicating the year. Although there are also interesting animist and minority celebrations, the majority of festivals in Laos are associated with Buddhism and the rice-growing cycle. These celebrations referred to as "boun," frequently feature feasting, drinking, and vivacious Lao music. Celebrations can range from little get-togethers in rural areas to massive occasions like Lao Pi Mai, which can essentially close down a whole town for several days, depending on the occasion.

Experience The Top Festival In Laos 

1. Water Festival in Laos – Laos New Year in April (Boun Pi Mai)

The Boun Pi May, also known as the Laos New Year festival, is a significant holiday in Laos where people gather to pray for happiness and welcome the new year. It takes place annually in mid-April, officially lasting three days, but can last up to a week. The festival involves cleaning houses, washing Buddha images with holy water, and wearing new clothes. People visit temples to offer services and watch colorful parades, especially in Luang Prabang and Vientiane. One of the festival's highlights is the water splashing tradition, water plays a big part in the festival. Similar to Songkran In Thailand, Boun Pi Mai seems on the surface to be simply a huge water fight, but it is actually a deeply religious time based on traditional beliefs and religious rituals. Despite its appearance as a large water fight, the festival has religious and traditional significance, as Buddha images are washed to signify cleaning, and blessings are given to devotees and family members through the pouring of water. Expect to get soaked if attending the festival, which brings joy and blessings for luck, happiness, and safety in the new year.

Read more: Experiencing Laos New Year Festival

Laos girls splashing water during festival Water Festival 

2. Elephant Festival in Laos

The Elephant Festival in Laos, also known as the Sayaboury Elephant Festival, is a two-day event in mid-February that celebrates the cultural significance and rich history of elephants in Laos. This festival aims to raise awareness of the Asian elephant's endangered status. More than 50 elephants gather in the small town of Sayaboury in Western Laos with their mahouts, where they receive a blessing from monks before being paraded through town. The Sayaboury Elephant Festival celebrates these majestic animals while also promoting the need to protect their natural habitat and preserve the traditional mahout lifestyle. Most of the participating elephants are either retired working elephants or partially domesticated, and the festival does not use any inhumane training or tactics. Use this list of Laos festivals grouped by month to plan your trip to Laos around some of these cultural events.

Elephant Festival in Xayaboury Province, Laos 

3. Boun Ma Kha Bu Saar (Full Moon)

The second-most significant Buddhist festival in Laos is Magha Puja, also known as the four-time council or Sangha. It is celebrated throughout Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. The festival is run by oil lights, pilgrims visiting temples to perform specific ceremonies, chanting, meditation, and other Buddhist activities, all with the spiritual purpose of purifying one's mind and doing good deeds. Each temple displayed candles and flowers in the evening, and monks and association members circled the uposatha hall in a circular motion to symbolize the three pearls of Buddhism. Visitors may see the lovely candlelight parade after seeing the chanting and lectures that take place at night during the festival that occurs in the sixth month.

4. Boun Bang Fai – Rocket Festival 

The Bang Fai Festival or Rocket Festival in Laos is an exuberant occasion in Laos that dates back to pre-Buddhist times. It is celebrated in various villages throughout the country at different times between May and September every year. During this event, local people launch their own handmade rockets into the air to request the spirits to bring an end to the dry season and to bring rain. Depending on their size, rockets are launched from different platforms and there are prizes awarded for the highest flyer, the most beautifully decorated rocket, and the most entertaining team. If a team's rocket fails to launch or misfires, they are thrown into the mud. For visitors, the festival is an unforgettable experience to see the most attractively decorated and highest-traveling homemade rockets and fireworks going up into the sky, while chanting and merry-making go on in the hope of producing good rain.

Rocket Festival is an exuberant occasion in Laos  

5. That Luang Festival

That Luang Festival is a significant annual event in Laos, celebrated in the capital city of Vientiane. The festival is one of the biggest in the country, attracting Laotians from all regions. It is typically held over three days in November, during the full moon, at the That Luang Stupa, which is considered a national symbol of Laos. During the festival, monks gather to receive alms and floral votives from the locals, and there are processions, parties, and a trade show. At night, a grand fireworks display illuminates the sky, adding to the festive atmosphere.

6. Boat Racing Festival in Laos

Boat Racing Festival in Laos, also known as Boun Suang Heau held at slightly different times of the year depending on the region. In Vientiane, the first boat race of the year takes place on the Mekong River during the Buddhist Ok Phansa festival in late August or early September. Each village trained for weeks and submitted teams to participate in the festival, with each boat kept in honor at the local wat and only brought out once a year for this ancient ritual. The event draws huge crowds and creates a lot of excitement. In Luang Prabang, the festival is held on Boun Khao Padapdin, while in Vientiane Capital and Paske, boat racing takes place the day after the End of Buddhist Lent.

A longboat race at the Mekong River in Vientiane, Laos 

Begin planning your vacation to this intriguing Asian nation immediately with Laos Immigration Services. Travelers may now apply for a Laos e-visa with only a few clicks thanks to our thoughtfully developed system. Never forget to check your eligibility to make sure you are qualified to obtain an e-visa. Within a few days, travelers can have the chance to visit Laos and experience a one-of-a-kind country with its variety of famous festivals in Laos. We hope that this article has helped you make up your mind about visiting Laos and has given you some inspiration. Feel free to get in touch with us at any time if you have any questions. Now let’s pack your bags and take a flight to Laos now; we hope you will have a nice trip!