Lao Voices

As as little kid in Laos I have never attended Pha Vet festival. My hometown in Nongbon didn’t host Boun Pha Vet as far as I could recall. I have heard the story of Pha Vet Sandone, told by my parents many times and about Hare Pha Vet Sandone. To hear my Grand-Mama on the phone telling me about her village, Ban Phonsikhay celebrating the Pha Vet festival on an annual basis was so intriguing.

According to Grand-Mama, the Buddhist Monks from Wat Phonsikhay and the nearby temples, who have been trained in recitation of the Jakata would take turn reading the stories from the first evening to the next night. Many Buddhist faithfuls would stay at the temple to listen to the stories and spend the night there. Then they would get up at 3:00 AM for the continuation of the stories. The only break is during the Morning Alms Giving and the meals. My Grand-Mama said for the most part of her life she would sit through the entire story telling time and would be at the temple for two to three days (sometimes the festival takes three days to complete) and sleep there with the rest of the villagers. At 90 years old and with an injured knee, she can’t sit that long in a kneeling position for too long.