Editing Vesak (section)

====In Laos====
The '''Vixakha Bouxa''' festival is the [[Lao people|Lao]] version of the Thai Visakha Puja, which it closely resembles. It commemorates the [[birth]], [[Bodhi|enlightenment]], and [[death]] of the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]], which are all said to have happened on the same date. It is held around the month of May or ''Vesak'', based on the lunar calendar. Celebrations include [[Dance and Theater of Laos|dances]], [[poetry|poems]], [[parade]]s, [[procession]]s, [[meditation|deep meditation]], [[Dance and Theater of Laos|theatrical performances]], and [[puppet show]]s.

=====Boun Bang Fay=====
One part of the Vixakha Bouxa festival is called '''Boun Bang Fay''', or [[Rocket Festival]]. As this occurs during the hottest and driest season of the year, large homemade [[firework|rocket]]s are launched into the sky in an attempt to convince the celestial beings to send down [[rain]]. Traditionally, Buddhist [[monks]] made the rockets out of hollow bamboo tubes filled with [[gunpowder]] (among other things). Nowadays, lay people make the ''bang fai'' more like [[fireworks]] and hold competitions for the highest, fastest and most colorful rockets. The event takes place on both sides of the Mekhong River border between Thailand and the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and sometimes teams from the neighbouring countries will compete against each other. Tourists travel long distances to witness this now popular event.