When you think of Bang Bun Fai or the Isaan rocket festival, you probably envisage the largest of all the rocket festivals, held in neighbouring Yasothon. Bun Fai is celebrated throughout Isaan and Laos, and there is more to it than the displaying and letting off of rockets. Depending on the town or Province, festivities occur mid to late June in our calendar, or more relevantly early rainy season in theirs.
It is in fact an animist/ pagan fertility festival, and well predates Buddhism- as soon becomes obvious to all but the most unobservant observer! The essential rains are coming, the hard work of planting about to begin- but now it is time to party, make merit, and hope for a good rainy season. The atmosphere is bawdy. Celebrations don't just happen at town or district level- there are private parties too.
Wiki- These festivals are presumed to have evolved from pre-Buddhist fertility rites held to celebrate and encourage the coming of the rains, from before the 9th Century discovery of black powder. It may also be said that Lao culture is not lacking in earthy, bawdy themes, with rockets festivals the most sexually oriented and bawdy of the lot. Coming immediately prior to the planting season, the festivals offer an excellent chance to make merry before the hard work begins;
Rocket Festival - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
So lets make merry with the locals- todays event is a local private party, and while rockets are let off regularly through the day, they are not the main attraction. Today is about Cocks.
Cockfighting, did you say?
Well, yes. And no.