Before the dinner, a class on katong making was instructed by Tiao Nithakhong Somsanith, a world-renown artist specializing in gold-thread embroidery and paintings. Some of the katong made by students were later used as table decorations; others were kept by the students. The dinner featured authentic Lao food, an explanation on each dish, a Lao classical dance by students from the Lao American Women's Association (LAWA), and Lum Wong, a popular Lao dance, literally translated as 'Circle Dance'. Some of Tiao Somsanith's paintings were available for sale to benefit the foundation. See pictures

About The Festival

The end of Buddhist lent is celebrated with the Lai Heu Fai festival. This follows an approximate 3-month period (typically July to September) during which Buddhist monks are to remain within the temple grounds. This period coincides with the rainy season, consequently considered hazardous for Buddhist monks to go out and receive alms from villagers and for people in general to travel long distance.

The Lai Heu Fai festival has three main components: Heu Fai (fire boats), Katong (banana-leaf floats), and lanterns. The dinner hosted by LHF focused on the Katong.

Heu Fai are rafts made by tying banana stocks together. They are made into many shapes and sizes. Some can be as long as 30 feet and as wide as 15 feet. They are decorated with dozens or hundreds of candles and lanterns. Each village along the Mekhong river makes one raft, which it enters into a competition on the last night of lent. The rafts are judged on creativity. In Lao, "lai" means to float, hence "Lai Heu Fai".

Katong are floats made of banana leaves. In the center of the katong are candles, incense, and flowers, usually marigolds to symbolize Buddhism and “dok sam pee” (literally translated as flowers that last three years) to embody longevity. The flags bear the names of one's ancestors, as well as one's troubles and worries. It is believed that when you place the katong in the water, the spirits of the ancestors whose names are on the flags will be called to the river, cleansing away the troubles and worries, bad luck, disease, and bad deeds. People are to let these katong float downriver and in no circumstance should they retrieve them; doing so will pass the burdens onto the retriever. In Lao, 'loy' also means to float, hence 'Loy Katong'. This aspect of the festival is perhaps the most celebrated in much of Southeast Asia.

People also make lanterns to hang on their porches. The lanterns are made out of cellophane paper and bamboo sticks, and in the shape of stars and flowers. The lanterns are hung for three nights, the night before the end of Buddhist lent, the night of the end, and the night after.

Like many Lao traditions, this celebration is rooted in Buddhist practices and animist beliefs. It is not only to mark the end of the Buddhist Lent, but is also a worship of the river spirits for providing water and rain for the crops, as well as a reverence to the ancestors.