Lao Boun Souang Heua (Lao Long Boat Racing)
Boun Souang Heua is a part of Lao tradition for many generations, but most younger generations forget as to why we celebrate the festive event, and it might be that the event of Dragon Boat Racing is internationally recognized, well known to all, and has an interesting myth and legend that surround the history of the event. As for our Boun Souang Heau, we also have our history and reasoning behind the event as well, it is held the day after Ok Phansa.
As we all knew that Buddhism is the official religion of Laos, and many religious events are more or less celebrated nationwide. One of the most notable celebrations is at the end of Lent or the Rains Retreat called Ok Phansa. Phansa is the period of three months during which the Buddhist monks are obliged to stay in the monasteries. The end of the Rains Retreat marks the occasion for the monks throughout the country to receive new robes and other necessities in an annual presentation ceremony called Thot Kathin (merit-making ceremony).
According to one of the monks at our local Wat (temple), in Laos, people would choose which Wat they want to Thot Kathin, the temple then place a Kathin flag as an announcement that the Kathin event is to follow. Assuming if there were no flag in front of Wat, then the villagers would join in to Thot Kathin called Kathin Sa Ma Kee.
Long boats were traditionally built for carrying Buddha images in water-borne processions during the Kathin ceremony. However, they are also designed for racing, victory brought fame to the village or temple that owned the boat. The boats thus have a long and sleek appearance.
The long boats are usually made by hollowing out a tree trunk; wooden planks were added as seats for the oarsmen. Before each race, the boat is repainted, with the bow and stern decorated to resemble Phaya Nark (Naga), lion or other creatures. The outside of the boat is waxed to reduce drag and increase the ease with which the vessel glides through the water.
Since Laos is a river-based culture, the Mekong River is like an artery that runs through our country, it’d only make sense that we’d have competition in the water as part of our sporting events, which is called Long Boat Racing, or Boun Souang Heua, just as land-based cultures race horses or cars, Lao race Long boats. I think Boun Souang Heua is a festive event worth carrying on the tradition, and to understand the true meaning behind it only makes the event more special to us.
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Thank you so much helping me bringing home this article. For several years I pondered on this fact. Your article is very detailed and well organized. I will print this out and distribute it at the next practice. A I knew Boun Souang Heua is related to Buddishm somehow but just never get a grip on it. I love the pictures. I praise my Laotian brothers-sisters-aunts-uncles-grandma-grandpa-neices-and nephews in Laos for keeping Laos forever! Keeping our traditions, no matter where we are, makes us strong. The event will be even more meaningful and beautiful now. I am sure the others will be as well. Go Lao Voice.
You are welcome, it’s something that most of us have forgotten, including myself, and it’s good to know the history and true meaning behind why we’re doing certain traditional tasks. If by doing it just because, then it’s not good enough in my opinion, by writing this, I was able to place the Boun events into perspective for myself as well.
Well said, well said indeed. I look at the long boat pictures and wishes that I was on that boat. I wonder if anyone heard anything about Ehhong Keo Pa. It's a famous long boat raced in Laos when I was a kid. Just a thought.
Hi Amphone, I’ve never heard of Ehhong Keo Pa, something worth checking into, and thank you for posting this article at Lasga.org.
E (when addressing a female) Hong (a bird or pheonix) Kep pa (forest). It's very famous then. It would be nice to see who up keep it now. It supposedly used by the Lao royal boat racing team. I think. They were famous because they always win. I wonder if they keep the record of the winning boats. Accountability and recording keeping can be hairy. Oophs…
Hey is it okay if I used this artical in a show case describing the laos boat festival?
Hi Jody, you’ve my permission to use it, and thanks for asking.