In October every year the people of Luang Prabang celebrate the end of Buddhist Lent by parading with fabulous candle-lit boats through town. The dragon-shaped boats are then launched onto the Mekong to appease the Nagas - water spirits - and bring good luck. People also make small boats (kratong) out of sections of banana stem decorated with flowers, candles and incense sticks and float them down the river to seek blessings from the nagas and take bad fortune away.
It's a good mix of Buddhism and Animism, as is usual in Laos, and an incredibly beautiful spectacle.
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Each fireboat has an escort of (mostly) young lads who clamber over them, checking that the candles don't go out or set the thing on fire prematurely. |
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| There were 22 boats in the parade this year. Plus drummers, dancers and women in traditional dress. |
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| Kratong |
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| Every temple is lit to celebrate the end of three months of "Buddhist lent", during which monks have to stay in the temples on retreat. |
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| I was pleased to see one of Luang Prabang's fine fire trucks bringing up the rear. |
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| Our neighbour Josephine invited us over to make kratong from flowers in her garden. |
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| We launched ours in the pond! |
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| I hope that doesn't mean all our bad luck is floating around for ever, unable to escape. |
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| Also decorated the front of the house with a traditional star lantern and candles at night. |
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| Plenty of blue skies now that we're past the rainy season. |
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