(KPL)  Ta-oi District, Saravan Province, launched the Taya-Ja Al Festival on November 14, 2024, in conjunction with its annual traditional boat racing event.

Held at the Ta-oi Secondary School, the festival aims to highlight local tourist attractions and promote tourism in the district, promoting the Visit Laos Year 2024 campaign.

Ta-oi District Chief Bounnuea Lonkhamtai stated that the Taya-Ja Al Festival is a time-honored tradition of the Ta-oi, Katang, and Pako ethnic groups. It showcases their unique cultural heritage, including traditional ways of life, farming practices, and a spirit of unity and mutual assistance.

The festival, traditionally held after the annual harvest, features various ceremonial activities. These include offerings such as jar rice wine, boiled chickens, boiled pigs, and root crops to honor ancestral spirits and deities who have safeguarded their crops over the past months. The ceremonies express gratitude, seek blessings for good health and prosperity, and hope for abundant harvests in the coming years.

This year’s celebration included cultural parades representing the Ta-oi, Katang, Pako, and Lao ethnic groups. Each parade highlighted traditional livelihoods, cultural practices, and distinctive costumes.

Scheduled from November 14-16, the event also featured booths showcasing local products, farmers’ goods, and signature dishes of local ethnic groups.

KPL