Louisiana Lao New Year Festival

09/08/2026

09/04/2026

Sabaidee world,

We warmly invite you, your family, and friends to join us next Saturday, September 12, 2026, for a fun-filled day as we come together for a special fundraiser to help rebuild our front fountain, where our beloved Phra Mae Thorani sits. This fountain holds a special place in our hearts and is also where we gather each year for our Loy Krathong ceremony. There will be delicious food and drinks for sale, along with live entertainment featuring our very own local talents! Menu will be posted closer to the event date, so please check back for updates! We hope you can come out, enjoy some good food, listen to some great music, and spend time together as a community while supporting a meaningful cause. Every bit of support truly means a lot to us.

Please help us share this post with your family and friends. We hope to see you all there! Come hungry, bring your family, and let’s make it a wonderful day together!

As always, have a blessed one! 🙏🙏🙏

08/10/2026

Conversations that should happen in Lao households.

How do we honor our Lao cultural values while healing intergenerational trauma? How do we navigate expectations while staying true to ourselves?!

We invite you to join Rita of Healing Out Lao’d & John & Jenny of The Lao Legacy Project for an untapped, open conversation exploring these exact questions. Together, we’ll dive into family dynamics, cultural roots, and what intergenerational healing looks like for our community from unique Lao diaspora lens.

Grab a friend & come with open minds/hearts + stomachs!!! 👯‍♀️🤤🙏🏽🙌🏽 Food will be available for purchase at the C3 Lounge to support a local Lao-owned business and help sustain community spaces like this in (Laos) Vegas!!!

📅 Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:30-2:00PM
📍 Location: C3 Lounge 2605 S Decatur Blvd #120, Las Vegas, NV 89102
🔗 Link to RSVP: https://luma.com/ayex9sw1

​**This event is a proud partnership between Healing Out Lao’d, Lao Legacy Project, and the C3 Lounge.**

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05/22/2026

La Pa Quan step by step videos now uploaded to Youtube.

"Bai Is" or Su Quan" rituals dominate the lives of the Lao community from the union of tow people at a wedding, birth of a child, to call back the spirit so the ill can get better, before a major trip or at funerals. At the center of all these ceremonies is a "Pa Quan". Pa Quan is an ornate arrangement consisting of different materials, including banana leaves, flowers, flower buds, blessed cotton strings. Use in Lao animist practices and Baci ritual "invoke the spirit." These were part of workshops funded with support from the Louisiana Folklore Society, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Much thanks to Vatsana Chanthala and Phanat Xanamane for organizing the workshops. And the Tradition Bearer / Teacher that led the workshops at Wat Thammarattanaram - Palixay Phoumaly.

The steps to make the traditional Lao floral arrangement / altar. Use in Lao animist practices and Baci ritual "invoke the spirit." These were part of worksh...

05/07/2026

Sabaidee everyone,

We would like to formally announce that our temple will be holding an election for a new President. Our current President, Mr. Bouasone Ounechith, has graciously served our congregation for two terms over the past eight years. We are deeply grateful for his dedicated leadership, commitment, and service to our community. His contributions have left a lasting and honorable legacy that will guide future leaders and members of our temple.

Individuals who are interested in running for the position of President are encouraged to contact a member of the board or send us a private message. The deadline to register as a candidate is May 31, 2026.

Candidate Requirements:

Must be an active member of Wat Thammarattanaram for at least four years
Must be 21 years of age or older
Must complete an initial review and interview with the board members
Must be a resident of Louisiana

The election will take place on June 7, 2026.

Voting Requirements:

Must be 18 years of age or older
Must be an active member of Wat Thammarattanaram
Must be present in person to vote
Must be a resident of Louisiana

Active Member:
If you are unsure of your member status, you may complete a membership form and submit it to the temple, preferably on weekends. The deadline to register as a voting member is May 31, 2026.

Thank you, and we appreciate your continued support of our temple community.

05/04/2026

04/25/2026

How the play Clay is made in Southeast Asia for the Sangkhan celebration.

5 likes. "Bangkok News - How to make Songkran powder"

04/13/2026

Sabaidee everyone,

Temple board and LNY festival organizers continue to assess the needs of the 18 individuals injured and are coordinating available resources to assist survivors. We’re grateful for the overwhelming outpouring of support from friends near and far. We are actively receiving and channeling resources to those affected, and remain committed to helping each person on their healing journey.

Additional steps: We will share details soon on where to send donations and how to contribute in meaningful ways. We also plan a Baci Ceremony or Sou Kwan (blessing string) ceremony part of Lao custom for survivors at the temple in the near future, as a compassionate blessing and gesture of communal support. We will provide further information as plans are confirmed.

To all that were harmed and affected. May your path to recovery be blessed with strength, peace, and gentle care. From Wat Thammarattanaram Buddhist Temple and the Louisiana Lao New Year Festival, we send you care, hope, and support.

Please reach out to Louisiana Lao New Year Page or Wat Thammarattanaram if you’d need assistance.

As always, have a blessed one 🙏!

A statement from the temple's board and monks is attached below:

04/11/2026

The lovely Nang Sangkhan ladies before the parade. With over a 1000 votes cast overall this year. The attendees on Friday night chose was #6 Reese Thadsaphone Morgan.