Givingalms ceremony in Wat Phou Champasack Festival , Laos.

hello, Steemian today i want to share you about the days ago i went to Champasak province in southern Laos i went to participate in one of the most important festival of Laos and that is Vat Phou Festival.

Vat Phou is a ruined Khmer Hindu temple complex in southern Laos. Champasack province. It is at the base of mount Phou Khao, some 6 kilometres from the Mekong in Champasak Province. There was a temple on the site as early as the 5th century, but the surviving structures date from the 11th to 13th centuries.

The Vat Phu Festival takes place every year, on the 15th day of the increasing moon of the 3rd month (in January-February) and coincides with the Makha Busa Buddhist Festival. It is based on the Buddhist Lunar Calendar. The celebration is held during the third lunar month of the year because Buddha is said to have delivered certain of his teachings at this time.

On this day long ago in India, 1,250 of Buddha’s followers came to see him on their own initiative without a scheduled meeting. All of these followers were said to be “enlightened ones” whom Buddha himself then ordained as teachers. He gave them the main, core teachings of Buddhism to pass on. These teachings were: cease from evil, do good, and cleanse your mind.

This day continue to be celebrated at this actual time. The believers come from a great distance to attend the ceremony ; some of them even come from Thailand and Cambodia, it is also the opportunity for surrounding plain and mountain populations to meet each other, maintaining these relations since time put off.

The dates of the last Vat Phou Festival in 2019 started from 17th February 2019 to 19th February 2019. There came hundreds of monks from everywhere arround the contry to the ceremony. Hundred of people kneel on the curbside with their head bowl and feet tucked away showing respect and giving alms to the monks who passing by.

For me on this day i woke up at 5 Am in the morning prepared cooked sticky rice, some cooked food contained in tiny plastic bags, snacks, steam sticky rice mix with coconut milk wraped in banana leaf, all are common offerings food that people give alms to the monk. You can find these food sold in the market or in stallholders on the path of the procession early on the morning.

To give alms here is the guide for you to be act and participate in the ceremony properly.

☆ Only make offerings if it is meaningful to you. This is not a theme park.
☆ Buy your rice in the market, preferably early in the morning rather than with the stallholders on the path of the procession
☆ Remove your shoes to give your offerings; women must stay on their knees and ideally wear a scarf over the shoulders.
☆ If you’re not making an offering, stay at a distance, in a respectful manner. Don’t hamper the procession and the donations of the faithful.
☆ Make sure you are decently dressed, with your shoulders, body and legs well covered, especially if you are giving any offerings.
☆ Don’t get too close take photos and never use flash.

Processions, recitals, and chants take place during the three days festival. Boats racing (dugouts), game "catch-ducks"; volleyball and petanque competitions are also organized.

During the official Opening event, speechs by the autority and a procession by the Districts of the Champasak province. This procession show the different specialities (music, dances, products) of the districts and their traditional dresses.

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