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Events at Vat Phou

Full Moon at Vat Phou World Heritage Site

Full moon nights at Vat Phou

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Vat Phou has a rendezvous with the Moon

Impressive and Spectacular illumination of the site

4 000 oil burner on the architecture lines of the monuments complex

Vat Phou Festival

The dates of the next Vat Phou Festival in 2019 will start from 17th February 2019 to 19th February 2019. 

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.  

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, danses, products) of the districts and their traditional dresses.
 
The local authorities want to maintain some traditions and to preserve the sacred sense of the place.

In the evening, various attractions as well as some concerts are used to occur as an usual profane aspect.

 

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Map Vat Phou and Around - Pierre Pichard - EFEO - 1992

WHO World Heritage
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