Wat Phou Festival

[Lone Rider]

While watching Bigfella's drone movie about Wat Phou and the Nang Sida temple I noticed (at around 1 minute 40 seconds of http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-forum/showthread.php?t=7920&page=2&p=60074&viewfull=1#post60074) that preparations were being made for the Wat Phou Festival. This festival is held every year in February during Macha Puja, which takes place every year from the 13th waxing moon day to the 15th day (full moon) of the third month of the Lao lunar calendar.

Seeing these preparations I remembered that quite some time ago my son and I decided to have a quick look at Wat Phou but we got a bit more than we bargained for as we blundered into these festivities. Our first sign that it would be a bit more busy than usual was when we ended up in a long queue at the ferry with several loaded ferries crossing the Mekong to and from Champasack.

Arriving at the parking area it was clear that we would not have the temple to ourselves

It was quite a hazy day and the smoke of all the incense being lighted at the temple did not help

On our way back to Pakse and there are still lots of people on their way to Wat Phou

 

[The Bigfella]

Quite a crowd, isn't it?

 

[Lone Rider]

Yes, our plan of a late afternoon visit with very people around to disturb the atmosphere was shattered by blaring loudspeakers, hundreds of people milling around with some setting up tents or shelters, others cooking their dinner and some taking a bath and doing other things in the barays. On the other hand it showed us that Buddhism is still very much alive in the socialist paradise.