The Sacred Lao Wedding Baci
The Lao traditional wedding ceremony begins with a Mo Phon (a Village elder and former monk) that performs the wedding ceremony, he takes a white cotton thread that connects the two Phakhuane offerings, and presents one to the groom and the other to the bride while instructing them to hold it in the palm of their hands in a Wai position.
Mo Phon begins the ceremony of The Sou Khouan by chanting verses, romantically poetic in nature, advising the bride of what is expected in a good wife, and the groom of his role as a good husband, at the closing of the ceremony, the friends join in and say, “Khouan Aeh Ma Deh”, meaning “please come, spirit come.”
The Mo Phon then does the honor of tying the white blessing stings on both the couple’s wrists called Phook Ken, after he finishes, then the village elders join in to tie white strings on the couple’s wrists and whilst doing so, they give blessing to the couple to start their new lives together. The symbolism of the string tying is for good luck and a bonding to the couple, two spirits joining as one is a significant transition for both bride and groom, and this closes the Lao wedding ceremony of The Sou Khouan, the couple then joyfully starts their new lives together.
There are Dual offerings to symbolise the newly married couple each tray comprises the following respective symbolisms:
Two cones of codiocum (Lao = bai Nguen and bai kham) these are considered to be silver and golden leaves which symbolize fortune and prosperity.
Two cones of calotropis (Lao = Dok Haok = “flower of love”) this symbolizes the union of the male and female with the white flowers symbolizing virtue.
Frangi pani plumeria (Lao = Dok Champa ) the National flower of Lao and of the Buddhist Sangha.
Beetle leaves and areca nuts symbolize respect for the ancestral spirits
Two coconuts, with their juice symbolizing purity plus two bunches of bananas symbolizing fertility
Four cakes made of sticky rice symbolize solidarity and inseparability
Four boiled eggs symbolize the khouan, (souls)
