|
The building of sand stupas is a Lao New Year tradition. They are either built on the beach, or sand is brought to the temple grounds. The stupas, or conical mounds, are decorated before they are presented to the monks as a way of making merit. The Lao believe that every grain of sand used in the construction of sand stupas represents an adverse deed from the previous year that will be washed away during the coming rainy season. They also believe that the sand stupa (with its round base) will give them ‘year-round’ protection against sickness, & a guarantee of wealth & prosperity, at least during the following year. They are decorated with flags, usually hand-painted horoscope banners, flowers, & white lime, & usually splashed with perfumed water. What is odd about these stupas in particular, is that they are here well before, or long after, the Lao New Year which is in mid-April?
|
Asia
view full-size
image -- 1012 x 588)