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My relatives in Pakse and Vientiane were busy making khao thom for Boun Ok Phansa the day before the Morning Alms Giving. This is the end of the Buddhist Lent and the faithful villagers will gather for the food offering at their local temple. After the spiritual event then it’s time to get down and party for the boat racing festival. October and November is the best time to be in Laos for all the big festivals.
These are the photos from my Grand-Mama’s temple.
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I see a lot of novice monk (Jua).
I would like our temple do the alms-giving round this way. Instead of the regular way of putting food into the bowl on the table. A little interaction between the monks and the people would be great.
Hi Dallas,
There are a great deal of Jua because of the Buddhist Seminary school there. There were 20 to 30 a year but this year more came to study and there are more than 40 Jua. This is where you would start your study and then move to a another temple.
The first time I went to the temple for the Morning Alms Giving, there was a row of table set up. I talked to my Grand-Mama and she told me how she didn’t like the way the temple in Vang Vieng did it as well with rows of table during a boun.
It’s up to the community to do things the way they see fit. I like the interaction myself. Just look at the smile of that Jua to the Grandmas.
These are nice photos, I think they also do this at Wat Lao Buddhavong of DC where the monks would walk around for Alms giving. It does cost a lot more because people like to give money as part of the offering, and imagine giving to every monks.