The annual Ghost Festival 2026 in Paklay district, Xayabouli Province, is set to be held from 14 to 18 March.
The festival, commonly known as Boun Phavet (Phee Khon), is closely tied to the Boun Phavet Festival, an important Theravada Buddhist celebration commemorating the story of Prince Vessantara (Phavet), the penultimate life of the Buddha before enlightenment. The name carries meaning: “Phee” means “ghost” and “Khon” means “human.”
According to legend, when Phavet came to town accompanied by ghost soldiers, they delivered a message, “Phee Tarm Khon,” meaning the spirits followed humans to bring the festival. Over time, this was shortened to “Phee Khon.”
The festival is famous for its distinctive masks, tall but slim, made of bamboo, painted white with lime coating, with prominent facial features, black costumes, and arms about one meter long.
To preserve the tradition, local authorities require all masks to follow the traditional Paklay style and be registered ahead of the festival. Non-compliance will result in a warning, with fines of up to LAK 1 million (approximately USD 47) for those who do not comply.
The event follows a precise schedule.
On 16 March, the Phee Khon roamed freely from 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM. On 17 March, the opening day of Bun Phavet, they begin again at 5:00 AM, before gathering at 1:00 PM to parade Phavet into town, concluding at Ban Saeng Lai Temple. At 4:00 PM, following the ceremony, all Phi Khon masks must be thrown into the Mekong River.
This ritual carries deep cultural significance.
The act of discarding the masks into the river symbolizes sending the spirits back to the natural world, so they do not remain among people. Water, and the Mekong River in particular, is also considered sacred in Lao tradition, and the act represents a cleansing of bad luck and negative spirits from the community.
Beyond the ceremonies, the five-day event offers local markets, boat rides along the Mekong, beauty pageants, boat races, live music, singing contests, and fireworks displays.
