Luang Prabang Boat Racing Festival 2014
The World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang is where the first of the provincial boat racing festivals this year will take place on August 24, being held on the Khan River with 37 boats taking part.
The Deputy Head of the Information, Culture and Tourism Department in Luang Prabang province, Mr Somlith Bouphaphanya, told Vientiane Times yesterday that theirs would be the first festival nationwide although the province will also be organising some village level competitions, such as at Hadhien and Sangkhalok villages, before the provincial level racing takes place.
“This year will be our biggest festival ever with 37 boats competing against each other. The 37 include two from Xayaboury province and will be the highlight of the festivities on August 24,” he said.
He said normally boat racing starts at 8 or 9 am in the morning after a tak baat (almsgiving) ceremony that the province will hold in front of the Royal Palace National Museum, at which there will be more than 200 novices and monks taking part.
“During the week before the competition there will be a trade fair at Thatluang esplanade in the province. Then, on August 23, we have also organised a ro lat or street fair that will be held in the early morning along Sisavang Road to add to the tourist attractions,” he said.
He added that the street fair opens in the early morning and will close at 9 or 10 am.
The main event of the boat racing festival will take place on the Nam Khan River. At last year’s festival, there were 32 boats taking part.
Souce: Vientiane Times
