BOUN BANG FAI

Words by Jason Rolan

Images by Phoonsab Thevongsa

In one of the most distinctive Lao celebrations, the Rocket Festival takes center stage. Set against the backdrop of the hottest period of the year, just preceding the rice planting season, locals create and launch rockets, known as bang fai, into the sky. They believe that the act of launching these rockets signals the gods to send rain, thus ensuring a bountiful harvest.

This festival is one exciting party in the fields with music, dancing, and Bang Fai!

In the morning, the atmosphere is already charged with the latest molam and loukthong country music hits resonating from the speakers. Friends gather to fashion rockets using sturdy bamboo or PVC pipes as the fuselage, which are filled with a homemade concoction of gunpowder and other secret ingredients, and then equipped with a fuse.

Villagers parade with drums and an electric guitar, called a phin, dressed in outlandish clothing, dancing, and drinking beer as they carry their rockets.

Tall scaffolds are erected for the festival so that Bang Fai may be mounted and launched

The fuse is lit while everyone holds their breath. The rockets launch into the sky and the village cheers on. The villagers celebrate by dancing and drinking more until the next rocket launch.

When the Bang Fai are in place, everyone will clear the area and the fuse is ignited electrically from afar

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