Last Friday, on October 26, I went to see the Naga fireballs at the Mekong River. According to my budget, I didn’t have a lot of money. If I went by my car, it would be late, there would be too many people, and we would have to buy more gas, which is why going by motorbike is the best option.

I called my close friend name Aloun, who is dark and tall. We have been close friends since we studied at Primary school. While the cell phone rang, my friend answered, I told him about the details and our destination. Eventually he said “yes”. So, it made me feel relieved because I want to see the Naga fireballs very much.

The new day came, Friday October 26. It is a full moon night. My friend and I drove the motorbike to the temples next to my house. I glanced at many people going to the temple in the colorful dresses, in Lao traditional style. Some went with their family, their friends, their boy friends and girl friends. However, mainly I saw adults or old people. Why do they go to the temple? The reasons are that they want to worship the Buddha. This time of the year is in honor of Buddhist lent, after the Buddha came from the heaven after three months meditation. Which is why Buddhist people celebrate by going to the temple with food, candy, cake, drink, fruits, flower (lotus, the symbol of Buddhist religion)…and make offerings to the monks.

After that they give alms. Some teenagers will go back home; only some teenagers and adults still stay at the temple. They will go back home until monks finish giving the speech. So for us, we listened to the speech about ten minutes, then we drove back to my home. Tonight there will be “Loitkathong”, and Naga fireballs at the Mekong River, Pakgreum Village, Borlikhamsay Province, across the river from Nongkhai, Thailand.

“Loitkathong” means you make something that looks like the bow, made from banana tree and banana leaf, decorated with yellow flowers, together with candles. We took these to the Mekong River in order to worship the nagas, and the Buddha footprint under the Mekong River. Before you take the Kathong in to the river, you must wish what you want to get. Then, do it.

to be continued …

Posted by sphoudavong General