
Ethnic festival showcases rich cultural diversity of Laos
The festival, scheduled from Tuesday to Saturday (July 8 - 12) in the Lao capital Vientiane, aims to promote unity and solidarity among Laos' 50 ethnic groups while preserving and showcasing their unique customs, traditions, music, literature, and everyday lifestyles.
According to a report from the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports on Tuesday, the event offers both domestic and international visitors a rare opportunity to experience the authentic cultures and lifestyles of each ethnic group.
The festival features a variety of activities, including an ethnic heritage exhibition, cultural performances, and displays of traditional clothing, handicrafts, utensils, and food.
It also highlights Laos' traditional craft of Naga motif weaving, the Lamvong dance, and Khaen music -- recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Lao Front for National Development is preparing to host a series of nationwide events to celebrate its 75th anniversary, which falls on Aug 13, showcasing its historic contributions to national unity, liberation, and development. - Xinhua
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The Star
08-07-2025
- The Star
Ethnic festival showcases rich cultural diversity of Laos
VIENTIANE: Laos organised the Lao Ethnic Cultural Festival to showcase the unity and cultural harmony of its 50 ethnic groups in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Lao Front for National Development (LFND). The festival, scheduled from Tuesday to Saturday (July 8 - 12) in the Lao capital Vientiane, aims to promote unity and solidarity among Laos' 50 ethnic groups while preserving and showcasing their unique customs, traditions, music, literature, and everyday lifestyles. According to a report from the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports on Tuesday, the event offers both domestic and international visitors a rare opportunity to experience the authentic cultures and lifestyles of each ethnic group. The festival features a variety of activities, including an ethnic heritage exhibition, cultural performances, and displays of traditional clothing, handicrafts, utensils, and food. It also highlights Laos' traditional craft of Naga motif weaving, the Lamvong dance, and Khaen music -- recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Lao Front for National Development is preparing to host a series of nationwide events to celebrate its 75th anniversary, which falls on Aug 13, showcasing its historic contributions to national unity, liberation, and development. - Xinhua


The Star
02-07-2025
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Lao Rocket Festival fills sky with joy
VIENTIANE: As the rainy season begins, people across Laos celebrate the annual Rocket Festival with cheers and rockets soaring into the sky - a joyful gathering of friends and families embracing the green season and hoping for a rich harvest. The Rocket Festival is a lively and cherished tradition observed annually throughout the country at the start of the rainy season, usually occurring between May and June. Xaysavanh, a resident of the capital Vientiane, is a passionate fan of the festival who travels to different villages each year to experience the celebration. For him, the festival is more than just fun; it is a powerful cultural tradition that brings people together. He values how the festival helps keep Lao traditions alive for the younger generation. "I have friends from all over Laos, and this festival gives me a reason to travel, reconnect and celebrate together. Every village has its own charm, its own way of celebrating," Xaysavanh told Xinhua on Sunday (June 29). "The festival carries our hopes into the sky, for rain, for a good harvest, and for a year without hardship. Most of my friends come from farming families, so I understand how important this festival is to them," he added. Sengaloun, a resident of Vientiane province, told Xinhua that the festival is a joyful celebration for all ages. For the older generation, it is a time to honour ancestors and pray for rain and a good harvest. For the youth, the festival is filled with music, and dancing. "This festival also brings me great happiness, as it reunites me with old friends who gather at my home to share food, stories and laughter," he said. "I invite them to my house every year, and we celebrate together. It's a joyful moment I look forward to all year." Phitsamay, an office worker from the capital Vientiane, shared that she often attends the Rocket Festival with a group of friends and always has a wonderful time. She described the atmosphere as energetic and lively, filled with excitement. "I feel excited, heartwarming, and full of joy every time I visit this festival. It's such a great experience to spend time with friends and enjoy the festive spirit together," said Phitsamay. The Rocket Festival is held to call for rain and celebrate fertility, reflecting deep ties to Laos' agricultural traditions. During the celebration, people gather in fields on the outskirts of villages and towns to launch homemade firework rockets high into the sky. These rockets are fired as a symbolic plea to the rain gods, asking for showers that will nourish the land and ensure a successful, abundant harvest. Alongside the rocket launches, the festival also features a variety of fun activities, making it both a spiritual ritual and a lively community event. - Xinhua

Barnama
27-05-2025
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'Our Land, Our Home': A Song Of ASEAN Unity
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