Lao Voices

In temples throughout Vientiane, monks are finalising preparations to welcome thousands of local and foreign visitors, who will come to worship Buddha images and receive blessings during the three days of Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year).

In more than 100 temples they are arranging altars, preparing cotton strings to tie around devotees’ wrists and perfuming water that will be poured over Buddha images. They are also taking time to clean and paint the temples.

Monks in popular temples such as Simeuang, That Luang, Sisaket, Hongkha and Ongteu are hard at work preparing for the many visitors.

At Simeuang temple monk Khammone Phommachak said yesterday the temple was preparing more than 1,000 Buddha images for visitors, including Ya Mae Simeuang, Pra Nang Kuak and Prabang Buddha.

He said most local and foreign visitors will donate about 20,000 kip for an image which they will take home to later worship.

The monks start making these images one month before the New Year festival.

“Some years there are not enough images for all the people who come to worship here. These days there are many more Lao people coming home from abroad for the New Year and they want to take images back with them,” monk Khammone explained.

A monk from Sisaket temple, Vihane Siriphon, said thousands of people coming to Song Pha also pour perfumed water over the images. Then they receive blessings from the monks with cotton strings being tied around their wrists. They also pray to Buddha and ask for slips of paper telling their fortunes.

“Each year we prepare marquees for visitors where the ritual will be performed and put up the Lao and Buddhist flags around the temple,” monk Vihane said.

During the three days of Pi Mai Lao , many temples will be crowded with visitors from early morning until evening, keeping the monks and novices very busy.

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
April 10, 2008