| In the
first lunar month, Bun Khao Kam ([5og0qhkde--monks' penance ceremony) in which monks take the vow of penance
for any unconscious or conscious sins or violation of monk's precepts. This ceremony takes
seven days and lay people tend to the monks' well-being by providing food and other
necessary services. After the monks have been declared innocent of their sins or
violations, a day-long sermon for lay people is held. Before Laos adopted
Buddhism in King Faa-ngum's reign, there was an ancient ritual of liang phii faa phii
thaeng (]Ph'zu2hk zuc4o-- giving a feast to the sky god and the rain god, Phya Thaen).
During the reign of King Phothisaalaaj who was a devout Buddhist, this ritual was
abolished because the king thought it was against Buddhist belief. |
