VIENTIANE: Luang Namtha provincial authorities are planning a grand Pha That Xieng Teung stupa festival to celebrate the naming of the stupa as a national heritage site.
Deputy Head of the province’s Information, Culture and Tourism Office, Somsavath Namintha, said the festival will take place from Nov 9-15 and will be advertised under the Visit Laos Year programme.
It will include activities such as a street market, sports contests, display and sale of handmade and other locally made products, concerts, a fashion show featuring the costumes worn by 13 ethnic groups, and an almsgiving ceremony.
There will also be plenty of local food for visitors to enjoy, Somsavath added.
Pha That Xeing Teung is the most important stupa in Sing district and is said to contain the Adam’s apple of Buddha.
The date of its original construction is unknown. To the left of the stupa are some stairs which lead to a sacred fountain and a sacred stone.
The biggest festival of the year, That Xieng Teung, is held here every year during the full moon of the 12th lunar month and attracts a wide gathering of people from around the district and province.
The stupa is located 5.5km from the centre of town, on the road leading to the provincial capital, and is situated on a hilltop.
Provincial authorities have prepared an exciting programme of events throughout 2024 as part of the Visit Laos Year tourism promotion campaign. It includes boat races, the Xieng Teung Stupa festival, the Namtha music festival, rocket festival, and the Lao New Year festival.
The province is also hosting the Laos-China-Vietnam Friendship Cup, a marathon for runners, and a cycling competition.
Luang Namtha’s annual festivals reflect the cultural traditions of its 17 ethnic groups. The province is especially popular in the winter months, when visitors tour villages inhabited by ethnic groups and visit the temples in Sing district.
Luang Namtha province is about 620km from Vientiane and is full of fascinating sights, stunning landscapes and quaint corners. Visitors will not be disappointed and will want to linger longer. - Vientiane Times/ANN
