I later learned that it is not uncommon for these racing boats to be stored at temples until the annual Luang Prabang boat racing festival, when they emerge for the competition. The festival ‘Boun Souang Heua Luang Prabang’ is held each year during the new moon of the ninth Buddhist lunar month, generally the end of August or the beginning of September. Traditionally the festival honors Naga, the mystical water snake, and the festivities hopefully pursuade the serpent to leave the flooded rice paddies to return to the river.
The Luang Prabang festival marks the beginning of the boat racing season in Laos, and someday I would love to witness the race, and feel the energy of the crowds lining the banks.
These 2 short videos produced by Tourism Luang Prabang offer an exciting look at the race:
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