This month many Lao people will prepare a small decorative offering wrapped in banana leaves. Inside will be fruit, sweets, dried fish, flowers and other small food items. Shaped like a boat, it is called a Hor khao.
Lao people will get up early, at 3-5 am to take their Hor khao to go to the temple or place it around their house.
With only the light from candles, people will pray to relatives who have passed away to accept their offerings.
Abandoned spirits who are suffering will also be offered a gift.
Every year Lao people celebrate the Horkhaopadapdin festival this way
Lao people believe that on this day, August 20, when they remember their deceased ancestors the guardians of hell will release them and other spirits to eat the food being offered.
People believe that if they do not give an offering, then they will not have success in work or business.
Some even believe this is the reason for the global economic slowdown.
Despite this, true believers have never stopped having faith in Buddha nor have they ceased to ask their ancestors' spirits to accept the offerings they have provided.
The festival usually takes place after the Buddhist Lent in the eighth or ninth month of the Buddhist calendar.
The day before Boun Horkhaopadapdin begins you can see people, especially in rural areas, getting together to fold banana leaves with rice and ripe banana. It is called a Khaotom.
Up to nine kinds of offering are placed in a Horkhao.
A monk at Simeuang temple said according to legend, Phra Chao Phimphisan had relatives who stole food and fruit from the temple.
When they passed away they became Pheds, spirits who have to take care of the temple because of their bad deeds.
One day, Phra Chao Phimphisan dreamt of his relative crying in pain and hunger.
In the morning he asked the Buddha what the dream meant. Buddha told him these spirits wanted him to donate something and make merit for them to enable them to be reborn.
Why do Lao people celebrate the Horkhaopadapdin festival?
Lao people believe placing food and sweets in packages wrapped up in banana leaves on the ground and fences at houses and temples during Horkhaopadapdin festival brings merit.
They believe this action will help their ancestors, relatives and other spirits have something to eat. In turn, they will be blessed with good luck and happiness in their lives.
The date of the festival depends on the Buddhist calendar, and this year it will fall on Thursday.
Devotees will prepare nine kinds of food and place them inside a Horkhao on this day.
In temples around the country monks will prepare the areas and decorations in the cental hall or Sim (where monks perform rituals) to welcome people who come to make merit.
Buddhist flags will often be placed on the sides of the temple's entrance to show it is an important day for devotees of the faith.
On Thursday residents of each village will begin emerging from their homes around 3 am, and on arrival at the temple they place their offering around the wall, the stupas of dead spirits, under trees and on the ground.
They invite the spirits to eat and call for mercy for them, so they can be reborn and freed from suffering, blessed with wealth and good health.
About 7-8 am, temples become joyous once again, when they become crowded with young people accompanying their parents to pay homage to the wisdom of Buddha.
Nowadays the festival is also seen as an opportunity for young people to show more modern versions of traditional clothing.
The women wear a traditional skirt called a sinh but will combine this with a colourful silk blouse. Young men wear formal but stylish clothing.
Giving alms begins with the senior monk in the temple telling lay people about the five commitments and encouraging them make merit.
After that they are allowed to bring offerings such as candies, Khaotom and money directly to monks at a long-table with aluminum bowls. They believe these offerings will go to their specific relative spirits.
It is usual at this time if you see many people pay homage to the wisdom of Buddha.
They ask the spirits of the dead to protect their house and family and to have good health, even if they don't have enough time to go the temple.
After the end of a special ceremony at 9 am, monks recite the teachings of Buddha and tell the history of Buddhist lent.
Sharing a breakfast together after monks and novices eat is also a way of building solidarity amongst the community.
Later in the day at 8 pm, people, especially young partners use this occasion to show their love for each other by holding bunches of flowers or candles with incense and pray to Buddha together by walking around the central temple hall three times and to acquire his blessings.
But don't forget, asking for blessing is not just for success in work, business or love.
To improve life depends very much one's own actions.
By Ounkham Pimmata
(Latest Update August 19, 2009)
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