Luang Prabang
Luang Orabang Festival of Lights
After two years of pared down festivities due to the pandemic, the end of Buddhist Lent and Baun Lai Heua Fai (The Fireboat Festival) was celebrated on 11th October. By good fortune we were present in Luang Prabang to witness this most charming and auspicious festival in Luang Prabang.
We were fortunate to be comfortably seated in the 3 Nagas restaurant so that we could watch the Parade. After a long wait from 6pm the Parade finally started nearer to 8pm.
The end of the Buddhist Lent marks the end of austere period and ushers in joyous celebrations.
The street was full of people from Luang Prabang and neighboring villages and hordes of tourists. The Candle lit boat procession, and there were 29 such boat floats that night, starts from the Post Office on the Main Street and heads towards Wat Xieng Thong or popularly known as the Golden Temple.
The star of the parade are Boats , which can be very elaborate. Hundreds pf candles are placed in each boat to illuminate them. Each boat is made by a community belonging to a temple or an institution. People in hundreds accompany each of the boats. They are from all ages. From very young to the old. They are very beautifully dressed. They sing and dance enthusiastically and break into loud cheers inviting the attention of onlookers.
Each boat is stylized after the Dragon and they have very interesting Masts. The boats are built on a bamboo frame . When the boats reach the Wat Xieng Thong temple they are lowered into the Mekong River and float downstream. Several People carry their own Krathong’s and with candles lit on each of them they float down the river. It is a magical sight to see several such lamps floating down the mighty Mekong.
The releasing of the Boats into Mekong River symbolizes paying homage to the almighty river asking for forgiveness for disrespecting and misusing the waters of the river.
Secondly the floating of Krathong’s by individuals into the river is a way to sending away negativity. There is also hope that the Nagas who reside in the river will bring good luck.
The Parade ended at about 1 0 pm and after a good cup of coffee at the 3 Nagas we made our way to the hotel We were indeed very fortunate to witness this once a year festival whilst visiting Luang Prabang.
Photographed by Ramesh Daga
