Boun Ok Phansa

Boun Ok Phansa is a beautiful and serene festival in Laos that marks the end of the three-month Buddhist Lent, which coincides with the rainy season. Held on the full moon day of the eleventh lunar month (usually in October), this festival is a time of great joy and spiritual significance. During Lent, Buddhist monks remain in their monasteries for study and meditation, and laypeople observe more devout practices. Boun Ok Phansa, which means "Leaving the Rains-retreat," celebrates the monks' return to their normal community duties.

The festival is a day of offerings and celebration, but it is the evening that holds the most magical spectacle. As darkness falls, the festival transforms into a breathtaking 'festival of lights', illuminating the rivers and towns of Laos with a gentle, spiritual glow.