Wat Pa Lao Buddhadham
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About the Event
During the Boon Haw Khao Slak ceremony, families prepare elaborate offering baskets containing monk necessities, seasonal fruits, traditional foods, and personal care items. Each family writes their names and the names of ancestors they wish to honor on small slips of paper (salak). These slips are placed in a bowl, and in a ceremonial drawing, monks randomly select the slips to determine which family's offerings they will receive. The matching process is often accompanied by festive music and joyful anticipation. After the drawing, families present their offerings to their matched monks, who chant blessings and transfer merit to the named ancestors. The ceremony combines elements of solemn remembrance with the excitement of the lottery drawing, creating a unique atmosphere that balances reverence with community celebration. The random matching is believed to create special karmic connections between donors and recipients.
Requirements
- Arrive by 09:00 AM to register your offering basket and participate in the full ceremony
- Prepare an offering basket with monk requisites, seasonal foods, and personal items
- Write clearly on your salak slip the names of family members (living and deceased) to receive merit
- Dress in traditional Lao clothing if possible, or modest attire appropriate for temple
- Each family should select one representative to present offerings after the drawing
- Be prepared to approach the monk who draws your family's salak with respect (hands in wai position)
- Women should not hand items directly to monks but place them on the receiving cloth
- Photography is usually permitted but should be unobtrusive during ceremonial portions
- Families with children are encouraged to participate to pass on this cultural tradition
- Maintain a balance of respectful behavior while enjoying the festive atmosphere
This unique ceremony welcomes all community members to participate in a tradition that combines merit-making, ancestor honoring, and community bonding in a distinctively Lao Buddhist format. The element of chance in the matching process reminds participants of the Buddhist teaching on non-attachment while creating special connections between laypeople and monks.
History of the Event
Boon Haw Khao Slak (also known as Boon Khao Salak or the Merit-Making Lottery Festival) is a distinctive Lao Buddhist tradition with ancient roots dating back centuries. The name refers to the practice of drawing lots (salak) to determine which monk receives offerings from which family. This ceremony evolved from the early Buddhist practice of distributing donations fairly among monks, preventing favoritism while ensuring all monks received necessary support. In Lao Buddhist tradition, this ceremony typically follows Boon Haw Khao Padabdinh and represents the culmination of ancestor-honoring ceremonies during Buddhist Lent. The practice embodies the Buddhist principles of equanimity, generosity (dana), and the special connection between the monastic community and laypeople.