The almsgiving ceremony in Luang Prabang has been passed down for thousands of years

🌈Activity introduction: In Laos, every day in Luang Prabang begins with an almsgiving ceremony in the early morning. Before dawn, a long line of people waiting to give alms has already formed on one side of the main street. As the sound of drums echoes, monks in orange robes emerge from nearby monasteries. They form a long line and walk calmly, while the almsgivers place sticky rice and some cookies into the monks' alms bowls and pray with folded hands. Everything happens silently in a harmonious and tacit manner. The almsgiving ceremony originated from the rules of Theravada Buddhism, which prohibit cooking in temples. Monks rely on the support of believers, leading to the tradition of seeking alms for a day's food in the early morning. However, over time, this tradition has become a tourist attraction, with visitors coming to witness the ceremony. Many tourists participate by purchasing food from nearby vendors and even being assigned seating. Due to the large number of almsgivers, monks place excess food in black plastic baskets by the roadside, which is later distributed to impoverished families. This is known as reverse almsgiving. Although this tradition may have deviated from its original purpose, it seems to have reached a balance, providing spiritual and material benefits to locals, monks, tourists, and vendors alike. ✏️Activity tips: 1. Be sure to wake up early, as the ceremony starts around 6 am. 2. The location is on the main street of Luang Prabang, with most monks coming from Wat Xieng Thong. 3. Avoid taking close-up photos and using flash, as it is considered impolite.