Boun Khao Padabdin (ບຸນເຂົ້າປະດັບດິນ) is a significant traditional festival in Laos, deeply rooted in Buddhist beliefs and local customs. The name means "Rice Festival for Placing on the Ground," reflecting the ritual of offering food to deceased ancestors, spirits, and wandering souls.
During the festival, families prepare special food offerings, particularly sticky rice and local delicacies, which are placed at temples, stupas, and sometimes directly on the ground outside their homes or village shrines. It is believed that during this time, the spirits of the dead return to the earthly realm to receive merit from the living. The offerings help bring blessings, good fortune, and peace to both the spirits and the living families.
Monks are invited to chant and bless the offerings, and people participate in merit-making ceremonies, sharing food, lighting candles, and performing acts of generosity to honor their ancestors.
Festival Highlights
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Food Offerings: Sticky rice, fruits, traditional snacks, and symbolic items are prepared and offered at temples and stupas.
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Ceremonies at Temples: Special prayers, almsgiving, and candlelight rituals are performed.
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Family Gatherings: It is a time for families to reunite, make merit together, and share in community spirit.
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Cultural Traditions: In some regions, cultural performances, music, and local markets accompany the religious ceremonies.
Where Is It Celebrated?
Boun Khao Padabdin is celebrated throughout Laos, particularly in:
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Vientiane Capital – Large ceremonies at temples like Wat Si Muang and That Luang.
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Luang Prabang – Traditional merit-making at famous temples like Wat Xieng Thong.
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Savannakhet, Champasak, and Pakse – Community-wide offerings and temple ceremonies.
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Small villages – Local gatherings and offerings at village stupas and shrines.
When Does It Happen?
Boun Khao Padabdin takes place during the waning moon of the ninth lunar month, usually falling in August or early September.
For 2025, Boun Khao Padabdin is expected to be celebrated around August 24–25, though exact dates may vary slightly depending on the lunar calendar.
Boun Khao Padabdin is a beautiful reflection of Laos' respect for ancestors, blending spiritual devotion with cultural warmth. Whether celebrated in the heart of a city or in a quiet village, it’s a time when the living and the departed come together through acts of kindness and remembrance.
