Boun Ok Phansa is a Buddhist festival held in Laos at the end of the rainy season, celebrating the conclusion of the monks’ retreat. Discover this remarkable festival, adorned with lights and a rich array of colors.
Boun Ok Phansa, the End of the Buddhist Lent
The Boun Ok Phansa festival marks the end of the Buddhist Lent in Laos, which lasts three months and during which monks remain in retreat at their home temple. They are forbidden to sleep outside the temple throughout this period (except in cases of extreme emergency). They also observe the following obligations: meditation, moral discipline, and the study of the Buddha’s teachings.
During this period, the “Phadimoka” ceremony takes place at each full moon. During this ceremony, monks must confess their faults in light of the 277 monastic rules. A reminder of the Sin Ha — the five basic principles established by the Buddha (not to kill or harm, not to steal, not to drink alcohol, not to commit adultery, and not to lie) — is also given.
Boun Ok Phansa takes place on the last full moon of October. Numerous candlelight processions are held throughout the country, marking the end of the rainy season. It is also the time when celebrations resume, particularly weddings, which were suspended during the Buddhist Lent.
In the evening, temples are adorned with a thousand colors through lanterns and multicolored candles placed throughout the grounds. These decorations are crafted by monks and local Laotian residents using local materials such as bamboo or mulberry bark. The inhabitants also create small rafts intended to float on the Mekong River. This tradition, dating back several thousand years, is associated with the Nâgas — serpent-shaped river spirits. The rafts are illuminated by candles and laden with offerings to the Nâgas in order to seek their forgiveness and protection. All these lights create a magical atmosphere during the procession.
Boat Races on the Mekong
During the Boun Ok Phansa festival, spectacular boat races take place in cities and villages along the Mekong River and other smaller waterways. Whether in Luang Prabang in the north, in the capital Vientiane, or in Savannakhet and Champassak, the longboats are decorated with candles and flowers. Each village has its own boat, capable of carrying up to 50 people, making it an opportunity for villages to compete against one another.
Most races take place in the afternoon, with the final held in Vientiane. This year, Boun Ok Phansa will take place on October 5, 2017. If you are visiting Laos at this time, do not miss this festival, which will inevitably immerse you in the atmosphere and culture of the country.
