Boun Hor Khao Salak 2009 in Laos
Buddhists request forgiveness at Horkhaosalak Festival
Monks receive gift baskets at That Luang temple
Believers took time from their jobs and studies to join in the festivities at their local temples.
Though Buddha departed from our world more than 2,500 years ago, his teachings remain to remind followers to make merit for themselves and their ancestors on important days in the Buddhist calendar.
Each year on this occasion the faithful get up early to take gift baskets to the temple by 7am. Offerings may include fruits, sweets, dried fish and meat, salt, sugar, rice or flowers, varying from family to family.
Temples around the country were crowded with women of all ages wearing the traditional sinh (long skirt) combined with colourful silk blouses. Young men were in formal clothing.
Their faces beaming with happiness, long ranks of believers stood on the temple grounds, embracing their silver bowls, waiting to place their offerings on long tables to be received by monks.
At 8am senior monks recited the five commitments to encourage lay people to make merit and give blessings.
After that they were welcomed to give their alms directly to the monks. At every corner of the temples, believers poured water from small bottles to ask Ngamae Thorani (a spirit guardian) to tell the spirits of their relatives it was time to receive their offerings.
If fortunate enough to have the time, festival participants sat on the sala (where monks and novices eat) to listen to the legend of the Horkhaosalak Festival.
Many see sharing a breakfast together after the monks and novices eat as a way of building solidarity amongst the community.
A resident of That Luang Neua, Ms Daomani, said the festival was an important opportunity to make amends with ancestors, relatives and the spirits of those whom she might have ag grieved in the past.
She hopes her actions during the festival will help the spirits grant forgiveness for her errors in this and past lives, and that she will be blessed with good health, success and protection.
However, she said she was aware these actions were symbolic, and that if you wanted to have better health and success in work, love or your studies, it depended on your own efforts.
By Ounkham Pimmata
September 7, 2009
Vientiane Times
