Free Event | Family Stupa Making

Come by TAEC on Sunday, 10 November between 10am and 4pm to learn how to make this most magnificent Khan 45 cone flower stupa for the That Luang Festival.

This is a free activity included with your entry ticket.

Admission: Adults 25,000 kip, Kids under 12 and Lao citizens are free.

Crafting an Offering for That Luang Festival 

The khan sii sip haa (meaning “flower stupa 45”) is a large offering on behalf of the whole family, to ask a wish to the Buddha. The most common offering has 45 cone marigolds arranged around a central banana leaf tower and a base of banana tree trunk. The number 45 is associated with family and represents the 45 years of teaching of the Buddha. Traditionally the khan also includes 3 incense sticks as well as two shiny tassels for decoration.

In Luang Prabang, the main events of That Luang festival take place at That Luang temple on Monday November 11th. The temple is a 10 min walk from the TAEC museum, across from Satri House Hotel, near the esplanade “night bazaar”. The celebration begins with a special alms giving ceremony starting early morning (around 5:30 am) at That Luang temple, where Buddhist practitioners offer food to the monks. In the evening (around 7.30 or 8pm), a procession is organised around the temple. Then people place their offerings in front of the temple’s stupa (which contains a holy relic).

You can bring your offering to That Luang temple and place it in front of the stupa in the temple’s yard, or in front of the big Buddha inside any pagoda. To give a successful offering, follow these steps:

1. When going to the temple it is always appreciated if you follow the proper etiquette: take your shoes off before entering the pagoda and make sure you are dressed properly (shoulders and legs covered).
2. When you stand in front of the stupa or when you enter the pagoda, bow 3 times (if you want).
3. If you are in front of the stupa or alone in the pagoda, proceed to step 4. If you are inside the pagoda and there are novices and monks, give your offering to them and proceed to step 6.
4. Elevate the offering to your forehead and then place it in front of the big Buddha statue or the big stupa.
5. Light the incense.
6. If you would like to, you can kneel and take a moment for yourself. Meditate, pray, or just enjoy this special moment. Think about something that you want to wish for. This can be good health, longevity, safety, or good fortune for you and your family.
7. 7. Bow 3 times again (if you want). Get up and leave. Take care not to show your back to the Buddha as you exist the temple.