MAIN FESTIVALS IN CHAMPASAK

Vat Phou Festival – February 

This is the largest festival in Champasak Province and one of the largest festivals in the entire country. It is held annually on the grounds of the enchanting pre-Angkorian remains of Vat Phou in Champasak. This festival attracts thousands of people each year, who come for prayer ceremonies and to enjoy the festivities. There is also a trade fair showcasing the products from the southern provinces of Laos, and from the neighbouring countries. On the day of the full moon, at dawn, the faithful gather in large numbers for the ceremony of offerings to the monks. The same day at sunset, a large procession goes through the site with candles in hand in a spectacle full of serenity.

Boun pimai (Lao new year) 14-16 April

Lao New Year begins at the same time each year and lasts for three days (April 14th-16th). It is one of the most important dates in the calendar as well as being a time of celebrate and endless fun. The festival is held before the onset of the rainy season to recognize the importance of water in people’s lives. It has also become synonymous with holiday, the celebration of Lao identity, the reinforcement of family bonds and an opportunity to reflect on the year ahead. Lao New Year celebrate in all Provinces, especially in Luang Prabang Province and Vientiane Capital. It is also a purification festival during which the Buddhist images in the household and the temples are ritually cleaned with sacred water.

Boun Bang Fai: A Vibrant Call to the Heavens

Rocket Festival – Once every 3 years

Boun Bang Fai, also known as the Rocket Festival, is one of Laos’ most exhilarating and culturally significant traditions. Held annually in May or June, just before the start of the rainy season, it’s a vibrant celebration with deep roots in animistic and Buddhist beliefs. The festival serves a dual purpose: a spirited plea to the rain god for a bountiful rice harvest and a colorful, communal send-off before the hard work of planting begins.

The Legend of the Toad King

The festival’s origin is famously told through the tale of Phaya Khan Khak (the Toad King) and Phaya Thaen (the god of rain). According to ancient lore, a long time ago, a terrible drought plagued the earth because Phaya Thaen had ceased sending rain. The animals and people suffered greatly until the heroic Toad King, Phaya Khan Khak, led a coalition of creatures—including termites and scorpions—in a battle against the divine ruler.

After a fierce and clever fight, the Toad King triumphed. As part of a peace treaty, Phaya Thaen promised to provide rain for the earth every year. The people, in turn, were instructed to launch rockets into the sky as a signal, a thunderous reminder to the heavens that it was time to send the life-giving downpours. The festival and its rocket launches are a fulfillment of this ancient pact, a ritual passed down through generations.

A Festival of Color, Music, and Joy

While the rocket launches are the main event, the Boun Bang Fai festival is a full-blown spectacle of cultural expression. It typically lasts for several days and includes a variety of traditional activities:

  • Lively Parades:Villages and communities compete in creating elaborately decorated floats, often featuring vibrant and humorous themes. Dancers and musicians, playing traditional instruments like the khene (a Lao mouth organ) and long drums, accompany the processions.
  • Unique Costumes:Participants often dress up in bizarre or flamboyant outfits. This tradition is said to have two purposes: to entertain the crowds and, in some cases, to « anger » the gods, encouraging them to send rain as a form of « revenge. »
  • The Rocket Competition:The highlight of the festival is the competitive launch of homemade bamboo rockets. Teams are judged on various criteria, including the rocket’s height, the beauty of its decoration, and the entertainment value of the team’s performance. There’s a playful rivalry, and teams whose rockets fail to launch or fly low are often playfully covered in mud as a form of good-natured punishment.

Experience Boun Bang Fai in Champasak

In Champasak districy, the festival is a particularly special occasion, held on a grand scale every three years in the three major villages of Ban Phaphin, Ban Nong Sa, and Ban Don Talat. The next major celebration is planned for 2026. This triennial event allows for a larger, more coordinated, and truly spectacular display of culture and community spirit.

If you find yourself in Champasak during this incredible time, you’ll be treated to a sensory explosion of sound, color, and laughter. Boun Bang Fai is more than just a festival; it’s a deep-rooted cultural ritual that showcases the resilience, humor, and communal spirit of the Lao people. Don’t miss the chance to witness this unique and unforgettable event!

Boun Vat That – June and December

The festival is held every year on June and October. A procession takes place in the main street of the village and joins the That temple. During the 3 days that follow, the temple is the scene of all kinds of religious or festive events (market fair, traditional music, local food…)

Boun Ork Phansa (The end of buddhist lent) – October

Boun Ork Phansa is the last day of Buddhist Lent. It occurs on the 15th day of the 11th month of the lunar calendar. In the morning, donations and offering are made at temples around the country. In the evening candlelight processions are held around the temples while hundreds around of colorful floats decorated with flowers, incense and candles are set adrift down and rivers giving thanks to the river spirit (Lai Heua Fai). They are said to pay respect to the Buddha and to thank the mother of rivers for providing water for our lives as well as to ask for blessing and to float the bad luck for the past year away, enabling the good luck to flow in. Villagers who live far from rivers set up model boat made of banana stems and decorated with flowers and candlelight, while other simply light up some candles in front of their houses and do their prayer, wishing for good luck. This colorful ritual has been carried on by Lao people for thousands of years.

Boat Racing Festival – mid of October

The Boun Suang Heua is a traditional Lao festival held every year at the end of Buddhist Lent (Ok Phansa). It combines religious rituals, community gatherings, and longboat races on rivers, especially the Mekong.

The festival includes morning offerings to monks at temples followed by candlelit processions in the evening, the creation of small decorated floats (krathong) made of banana leaves or bamboo, carrying candles, flowers, and offerings, set afloat on the river, exciting longboat races with beautifully decorated racing boats, often representing different villages or districts.

It is a spiritual act of gratitude to the river, seen as a life-giving force for irrigation, fishing, and fertility.

In Champasak District and also in Pakse, the festival is one of the most important cultural events of the year.