644:(thirty-two spirits). Illness occurs when one or more of these spirits leaves the body; this condition may be reversed by the soukhwan—more commonly called the baci—a ceremony that calls all thirty-two khwan back to bestow health, prosperity, and well-being on the affected participants. Cotton strings are tied around the wrists of the participants to keep the spirits in place. The ceremony is often performed to welcome guests, before and after making long trips, and as a curing ritual or after recovery from an illness; it is also the central ritual in the Lao Loum wedding ceremony and naming ceremony for newborn children.
420:
657:
ritual. In many villages, a person, usually an older man believed to have special knowledge of the phi, may be asked to choose an auspicious day for weddings or other important events, or for household rites. Each lowland village believes itself protected by the phi ban, which requires an annual offering to ensure the continued prosperity of the village. The village spirit specialist presides over this major ritual, which in the past often involved the sacrifice of a
2607:
1775:
670:
avoided or barred from the village. Lamet have similar beliefs, and each village must have one spirit practitioner (xemia), who is responsible for making all the sacrifices to village spirits. He also supervises the men's communal house and officiates at the construction of any new houses. When a spirit practitioner dies, one of his sons is elected by the married men of the village to be his successor. If he has none, one of his brother's sons is chosen.
232:
919:
2617:
905:
19:
729:
1568:
1107:
674:(mbrong n'a) are very important to the Lamet because they look out for the well-being of the entire household. They live in the house, and no activity is undertaken without informing them of it. Ancestor spirits are fond of buffalos; thus buffalo skulls or horns from sacrifices are hung at the altar of the ancestors or under the gable of the house. Numerous
384:. Party officials are allowed to participate at Buddhist ceremonies and even to be ordained as monks to earn religious merit following the death of close relatives. The level of religious understanding and orthodoxy of the sangha, however, is no higher than it had been before 1975, when it was criticized by many as backward and unobservant of the precepts.
710:, techniques, and procedures of shamanic rites, as well as the names and natures of all the spirits that can bring fortune or suffering to people. Because the tradition is passed orally, there is no uniform technique or ritual; rather, it varies within a general framework according to the practice of each master and
647:
Many Lao believe that the khwan of persons who die by accident, violence, or in childbirth are not reincarnated, becoming instead phi phetu (malevolent spirits). Animist believers also fear wild spirits of the forests. Other spirits associated with specific places such as the household, the river, or
439:
There are approximately 22,000 monks in the country, nearly 9,000 of whom have attained the rank of "senior monk", indicating years of study in temples. In addition, there are approximately 450 nuns, generally older women who are widowed, residing in temples throughout the country. The
Buddhist Order
705:
Hmong shamans are believed to be chosen by the spirits, usually after a serious or prolonged illness. The illness would be diagnosed by another shaman as an initiatory illness and confrontation with death, which was caused by the spirits. Both men and women can be summoned in this way by the spirits
652:
before the beginning of the farming season to ensure the favor of the spirit of the rice. These ceremonies, beginning in the late 1960s, were discouraged by the government as successive areas began to be liberated. This practice had apparently died out by the mid-1980s, at least in the extended area
476:
is one of the two focal points of village life (the other is the school). The wat provides a symbol of village identity as well as a location for ceremonies and festivals. Prior to the establishment of secular schools, village boys received basic education from monks at the wat. Nearly every lowland
881:
According to the 2015 national census, 64.7 percent of the population is
Buddhist, 1.7 percent is Christian, 31.4 percent report having “no religion” (a category which includes those with animist beliefs, who do not fit into other categories), and the remaining 2.1 percent belong to other religions
751:
and surrounding areas along the Mekong River in the central and southern regions of the country. Catholicism is an established presence in five of the most populous central and southern provinces, and
Catholics are able to worship openly. The church's activities are more circumscribed in the north.
697:
According to Hmong belief, spirits reside in the sky, and the shaman can climb a ladder to the heavens on his magical horse and contact the spirits there. Sometimes illness is caused by one's soul climbing the steps to the sky, and the shaman must climb after it, locate it, and bring it back to the
632:
beliefs are widespread among all segments of the Lao population. The belief in phi (spirits) colors the relationships of many Lao with nature and community and provides one explanation for illness and disease. Belief in phi is blended with
Buddhism, particularly at the village level, and some monks
507:
may be quite elaborate if the family can afford it but are rather simple in rural settings. The body lies in a coffin at home for several days, during which monks pray, and a continual stream of visitors pay their respects to the family and share food and drink. After this period, the body is taken
689:
renew the general protection of the household and ancestral spirits. The spirit of the door is important to household well-being and is the object of another annual ceremony and sacrifice. As with other Lao groups, illness is frequently attributed to the action of spirits, and spirit practitioners
343:
and nonmaterialism are clearly at odds with the
Marxist doctrine of economic development, and popular expenditures on religious donations for merit making are also seen as depriving the state of resources. Thus, although overtly espousing tolerance of Buddhism, the state undercut the authority and
656:
Ceremonies oriented to the phi commonly involve an offering of a chicken and rice liquor. Once the phi have taken the spiritual essence of the offering, people may consume the earthly remains. The head of a household or the individual who wants to gain the favor of the spirit usually performs the
431:
Theravada
Buddhism is by far the most prominent organized religion in the country, with nearly 5,000 temples serving as the focus of religious practice as well as the center of community life in rural areas. In most lowland Lao villages, religious tradition remains strong. Most Buddhist men spend
669:
ethnic groups are animists, for whom a cult of the ancestors is also important, although each group has different practices and beliefs. The Kammu call spirits hrooy, and they are similar to the phi of the Lao Loum; the house spirit is particularly important, and spirits of wild places are to be
399:
festival and fair, which until 1986 had been restricted to a three-day observance, lasted for seven days. Ordinations also increased, in towns and at the village level, and household ceremonies of blessing, in which monks were central participants, also began to recur.
684:
also believe in a variety of spirits (neeb), some associated with the house, some with nature, and some with ancestors. Every house has at least a small altar on one wall, which is the center of any ritual related to the household or its members. Annual ceremonies at
1311:, Vol 37 No. 4 July 2006. p. 622, quote: « Approximately 60 to 65% of the population, most of whom are Lao Lum (people of the lowlands) follow Buddhism. About 30% of the population, on the other hand, hold an animist belief system called "Sadsana Phee" ».
767:
congregations conduct services throughout the country for a community that has grown rapidly in the past decade. Church officials estimate
Protestants to number as many as 100,000. Many Protestants are members of ethnic Mon-Khmer groups, especially the
702:, he or she begins to shake and may stand on the bench or move, mimicking the process of climbing to heaven. The chant evokes the shaman's search and the negotiations with the heavenly spirits for a cure or for information about the family's fortune.
698:
body in order to effect a cure. During the ritual, the shaman sits in front of the altar astride a wooden bench, which becomes his or her horse. A black cloth headpiece covers vision of the present world, and as the shaman chants and enters a
661:
and is still an occasion for closing the village to any outsiders for a day. To Hang phi ban (feed the village spirit) also serves an important social function by reaffirming the village boundaries and the shared interests of all villagers.
519:
of
Buddhism still maintains a following in the country. Abbots and monks of several temples, particularly in Vientiane, reportedly are followers of the Thammayudh School, which places greater emphasis on meditation and discipline.
304:
of the sangha by both sides lowered its status in the eyes of many, but its influence at the village level augmented popular support for the Pathet Lao political platform, which paved the way for the change in government in 1975.
371:
of
Buddhism in Laos occurred around 1979, after which a strategic liberalization of policy occurred. Since that time, the number of monks has gradually increased, although as of 1993, the main concentrations continue to be in
531:
have visited these temples freely to conduct services and minister to worshippers. There are at least four large
Mahayana Buddhist pagodas in other urban centers and smaller Mahayana temples in villages near the borders of
2572:
791:, as well as in the former Saisomboun Special Zone, but smaller congregations are located throughout the country. The LFNC officially recognizes only two Protestant groups - the Lao Evangelical Church and the
363:
fell empty. Participation at weekly and monthly religious ceremonies also dropped off as villagers under the watchful eye of local political cadre were fearful of any behavior not specifically encouraged.
328:. Political seminars further discouraged "wasteful" expenditures on religious activities of all kinds, because some monks were sent to political reeducation centers and others were forbidden to preach.
2582:
706:
to be shamans. After recovery from the illness, the newly chosen shaman begins a period of study with a master shaman, which may last two or three years, during which time he or she learns the
1515:
837:
The Baha'i Faith has approximately 8,000 adherents and 4 centers: 2 in Vientiane Municipality, 1 in Vientiane Province, and 1 in Savannakhet Province. A small number of Baha'i also live in
648:
a grove of trees are neither inherently benevolent nor evil. However, occasional offerings ensure their favor and assistance in human affairs. In the past, it was common to perform similar
485:(sim), which is used for secular village meetings as well as for prayer sessions. Depending on the wealth and contributions of the villagers, the buildings vary from simple wood and
285:
attributed the success of the Pathet Lao to the inability of the Lao Loum elite to integrate the monarchy, government, and sangha into a set of mutually supportive institutions.
1886:
640:
Phi are ubiquitous and diverse. Some are connected with the universal elements—earth, heaven, fire, and water. Many Lao Loum also believe that they are being protected by
694:. Ordinary priests or the household head conduct the household ceremonies and ordinary divinations. The shaman may be called on to engage in significant curing rituals.
355:. Other pro-Pathet Lao monks joined the newly formed Lao United Buddhists Association, which replaced the former religious hierarchy. The numbers of men and boys being
775:
In urban areas, Protestantism has attracted many lowland Lao followers. Most Protestants are concentrated in Vientiane Municipality, in the provinces of Vientiane,
312:
government's successful efforts to consolidate its authority also continues to influence Buddhism. In political seminars at all levels, the government taught that
1764:
1141:
1744:
633:
are respected as having particular abilities to exorcise malevolent spirits from a sick person or to keep them out of a house. Many wat have a small
1704:
870:
819:
2646:
1699:
469:, a Lao-style stupa, is the most sacred Buddhist monument in Laos and the location of the nationally important festival and fair in November.
508:
in the coffin to a cremation ground and burned, again attended by monks. The ashes are then interred in a small shrine on the wat grounds.
219:, some resident foreigners associated with private businesses or nongovernmental organizations quietly engage in religious activity. The
810:
provinces. Christian denominations that have some following in the country, but which are not recognized by the Government, include the
772:
in the north and the Brou in the central provinces. Numbers of Protestants also have expanded rapidly in the Hmong and Yao communities.
1923:
300:, and opposition to foreign (i.e., Western) influence all contributed to the receptiveness of many monks to Pathet Lao overtures. The
2521:
1825:
987:
976:
497:. An administrative committee made up of respectable elderly men manages the financial and organizational affairs of the wat.
1615:
798:
Seventh-day Adventists number slightly more than 1,000 country-wide, with congregations in Vientiane Municipality as well as
830:
There are approximately 400 adherents of Islam in the country, the vast majority of whom are foreign permanent residents of
142:; however, they constitute more than 50% of the population. The remainder of the population belongs to at least 48 distinct
2496:
2246:
1840:
747:
There are approximately 45,000 members of the Catholic Church, many of whom are ethnic Vietnamese, concentrated in major
220:
273:
to influence the thoughts and attitudes of the populace. The effort was in many ways successful, despite efforts by the
223:
is in charge of religious affairs within the country and all religious organizations within Laos must register with it.
2541:
1908:
1754:
756:
was seized after 1975, and there is no longer a parsonage in that city. An informal Roman Catholic training center in
637:
built in one corner of the grounds that is associated with the phi khoun wat, the beneficent spirit of the monastery.
1930:
1739:
1552:
1866:
477:
village has a wat, and some have two. Minimally, a wat must have a residence building for the monks and novices (
380:
cities. Buddhist schools in the cities remain but have come to include a significant political component in the
1586:
1125:
2331:
2060:
258:
and was widespread by the fourteenth century. A number of Laotian kings were important patrons of Buddhism.
2577:
1913:
1327:. Local Traditions and World Religions: The Appropriation of “Religion” in Southeast Asia and Beyond. 2014.
792:
957:
395:
began to increase sharply. Festivals at the village and neighborhood level became more elaborate, and the
348:
and by keeping local monks from their traditional participation in most village decisions and activities.
2536:
2441:
2199:
1694:
1628:
891:
2082:
2004:
1805:
1580:
2641:
2546:
2148:
2138:
2075:
1881:
1674:
1608:
1540:
1138:
277:
to place the sangha under close civil administrative control and to enlist monks in development and
2491:
2456:
2411:
2263:
2239:
2079:
2033:
1918:
1795:
1288:
1093:
419:
2381:
2376:
2271:
2168:
2105:
1999:
1749:
340:
527:
community and two serving the ethnic Chinese community. Buddhist monks from Vietnam, China, and
2501:
2476:
2391:
2371:
2321:
2291:
2281:
1976:
1945:
1940:
1830:
1820:
1774:
795:- and requires all non-Catholic Christian groups to operate under one of these organizations.
736:
Christianity is a minority religion in Laos. There are three recognized churches in Laos: the
2587:
2466:
2461:
2341:
1800:
807:
780:
741:
977:
https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2012/12/globalReligion-tables.pdf
2531:
2481:
2436:
2416:
2406:
2306:
2095:
2050:
2014:
1891:
1871:
1684:
1679:
1601:
1085:
723:
388:
274:
120:
189:
8:
2561:
2506:
2421:
2401:
2286:
2276:
2232:
1971:
1896:
1544:
989:
942:
838:
500:
293:
38:
1289:
Pew Research Center's Global Religious Landscape 2010 - Religious Composition by Country
188:
constitute between 1% and 2% of the population. Other minority religious groups include
2551:
2486:
2451:
2386:
2366:
2356:
2316:
2301:
2296:
2158:
1759:
803:
317:
212:
97:
2616:
2592:
2511:
2471:
2446:
2426:
2361:
2336:
2326:
2311:
2055:
2019:
1935:
1876:
1783:
1734:
1724:
1558:
1548:
1119:
545:
524:
351:
During this period of political consolidation, many monks left the sangha or fled to
282:
270:
147:
58:
690:
are called to carry out curing rites. Two classes exist: ordinary practitioners and
288:
Popular resentment of the aristocracy, division of the sangha into two antagonistic
2431:
2351:
2346:
2255:
2070:
1854:
1835:
1644:
932:
815:
678:
regarding behavior in the house are observed to avoid offending ancestral spirits.
671:
414:
332:
162:
112:
448:
and supervises the activities of the order's central office, the Ho Thammasaphat.
2192:
2120:
2009:
1994:
1959:
1714:
1636:
1145:
924:
737:
559:
143:
489:
structures to large, ornate brick and concrete edifices decorated with colorful
254:
Buddhism was introduced to Laos beginning in the eighth century by Mon Buddhist
2143:
2065:
1989:
1719:
799:
711:
686:
466:
321:
301:
23:
523:
There are four Mahayana Buddhist temples in Vientiane, two serving the ethnic
2635:
2610:
2208:
2173:
2163:
2128:
2110:
2045:
1572:
1111:
952:
764:
753:
658:
606:
424:
377:
216:
170:
1562:
503:
generally do not mark events in a life- cycle, with the exception of death.
493:
and tile roofs shaped to mimic the curve of the naga, the mythical snake or
391:
as political relaxation, donations to the wat and participation at Buddhist
2153:
2090:
1305:
Malaria Control Alongside "Sadsana-Phee" (Animist Belief System) in Lao PDR
866:
856:
845:
681:
634:
628:
Despite the importance of Buddhism to Lao Loum and some Lao Theung groups,
551:
242:
temple complex in southern Laos. It was originally used for worship of the
239:
201:
180:
religious beliefs have been incorporated into Theravada Buddhist practice.
68:
2620:
2213:
2133:
1903:
1689:
1659:
947:
910:
784:
769:
590:
512:
494:
455:
tradition. Theravada Buddhism is also the dominant school in neighboring
154:
834:
and Cambodian (Cham) origin. There are two active mosques in Vientiane.
822:(Mormons), and Baptists. Official membership numbers are not available.
100:
is central to Lao cultural identity. The national symbol of Laos is the
1729:
1709:
1654:
1649:
831:
748:
618:
602:
598:
582:
571:
482:
441:
396:
381:
345:
297:
262:
205:
185:
124:
101:
231:
1534:
937:
811:
776:
691:
594:
586:
575:
567:
516:
452:
445:
373:
336:
325:
166:
136:
83:
760:
prepared a small number of priests to serve the Catholic community.
2224:
1815:
1669:
1664:
918:
666:
622:
610:
460:
433:
392:
356:
352:
235:
197:
181:
174:
158:
139:
128:
86:
48:
1981:
1571:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
1110:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
788:
757:
629:
614:
533:
504:
456:
344:
moral standing of the sangha by compelling monks to spread party
313:
278:
266:
132:
1593:
1810:
860:
849:
699:
649:
486:
478:
116:
111:
with a pyramidal base capped by the representation of a closed
18:
1139:
USCIRF Annual Report 2009 - The Commission's Watch List: Laos
707:
675:
641:
528:
490:
368:
247:
243:
193:
108:
104:
27:
728:
558:, "religion of the spirits") is an overarching term for the
1624:
563:
335:
by the monks was seen as approaching the ideal of a future
309:
289:
255:
92:
1325:
Modern Animism: The Emergence of "Spirit Religion" in Laos
153:
Tai folk religion is predominant among northern groups of
473:
360:
146:
groups. Most of these ethnic groups are practitioners of
1303:
Yoshihisa Shirayama, Samlane Phompida, Chushi Kuroiwa.
732:
Catholic Church "Sacre Coeur" (built 1928), Vientiane.
609:, and other ethnic groups of Laos. Among the Lao, the
900:
511:Although officially incorporated into the dominant
320:because both disciplines stated that all men are
250:, but was converted for use as a Buddhist temple.
2633:
1299:
1297:
150:, with beliefs that vary greatly among groups.
2240:
1609:
1309:Modern Medicine and Indigenous Health Beliefs
1294:
852:practice their beliefs in the larger cities.
1319:
1317:
1090:International Religious Freedom Report 2007
820:Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
581:The category comprehends traditions of the
423:The Buddhist temple at the Royal Palace in
387:From the late 1980s, stimulated as much by
2247:
2233:
1616:
1602:
436:in temples, even if only for a few days.
339:society. However, Buddhist principles of
281:assistance programs. Political scientist
173:groups. Even among lowland Lao, many pre-
115:which was built to protect relics of the
1314:
744:Church, and the Lao Evangelical Church.
727:
562:practiced by 30.7% of the population of
418:
230:
17:
77: other religions/not stated (1.8%)
2634:
1532:
1502:
1487:
1475:
1471:
1469:
1467:
1465:
1463:
1461:
1459:
1457:
1455:
1453:
1451:
1422:
1410:
1406:
1404:
1402:
1400:
1398:
1396:
1394:
1365:
1353:
1276:
1264:
1245:
1204:
1161:
885:
617:are predominantly Buddhist, while the
204:. A very small number of citizens are
2647:Religion in Southeast Asia by country
2228:
1597:
1498:
1496:
1449:
1447:
1445:
1443:
1441:
1439:
1437:
1435:
1433:
1431:
1392:
1390:
1388:
1386:
1384:
1382:
1380:
1378:
1376:
1374:
1349:
1347:
1345:
1343:
1341:
1339:
1337:
1335:
1333:
1241:
1239:
1237:
1235:
1233:
1200:
1198:
1196:
1194:
1192:
1190:
1080:
1078:
1076:
1074:
1072:
1070:
1068:
1066:
1064:
1062:
1060:
1058:
1056:
1054:
1052:
1050:
1048:
1046:
1044:
1042:
1040:
1038:
1036:
1034:
1032:
1030:
1028:
1026:
1024:
1022:
1020:
513:Mahanikai School of Buddhist Practice
2254:
1260:
1258:
1256:
1254:
1231:
1229:
1227:
1225:
1223:
1221:
1219:
1217:
1215:
1213:
1188:
1186:
1184:
1182:
1180:
1178:
1176:
1174:
1172:
1170:
1157:
1155:
1153:
1018:
1016:
1014:
1012:
1010:
1008:
1006:
1004:
1002:
1000:
597:people, as well as religions of the
539:
1533:Savada, Andrea Matles, ed. (1995).
481:), and a main building housing the
269:cause and to use the status of the
221:Lao Front for National Construction
13:
1539:(3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.:
1493:
1428:
1371:
1330:
825:
625:are predominantly folk religious.
265:attempted to convert monks to the
30:that is a national symbol of Laos.
14:
2658:
1623:
1251:
1210:
1167:
1150:
997:
261:Beginning in the late 1950s, the
123:. Almost all ethnic or "lowland"
2615:
2606:
2605:
1773:
1566:
1105:
917:
903:
818:, Assemblies of God, Lutherans,
119:. It is practiced by 66% of the
1508:
1481:
1416:
1359:
1282:
876:
717:
2573:British Indian Ocean Territory
1526:
1270:
1132:
981:
970:
1:
963:
882:or did not state an answer.
844:Small groups of followers of
855:Laos used to be part of the
841:Province and in Pakse City.
793:Seventh-day Adventist Church
451:Lao Buddhism belongs to the
440:is under the direction of a
432:some part of their lives as
403:
359:declined abruptly, and many
89:is the largest and dominant
7:
896:
892:Freedom of religion in Laos
871:Japanese Occupation of Laos
408:
26:(Golden Stupa), a Buddhist
10:
2663:
1585:: CS1 maint: postscript (
1124:: CS1 maint: postscript (
889:
721:
543:
412:
226:
215:prohibits foreigners from
2601:
2560:
2520:
2262:
2186:
2119:
2041:
2032:
1967:
1958:
1862:
1853:
1791:
1782:
1771:
1635:
1541:Federal Research Division
574:, and involve classes of
318:were basically compatible
2322:East Timor (Timor-Leste)
1867:Administrative divisions
1094:U.S. Department of State
324:, and both aimed to end
2583:Cocos (Keeling) Islands
869:was imposed during The
859:and has some remaining
814:, Jehovah’s Witnesses,
292:, the low level of its
733:
566:. These religions are
472:For the Lao Loum, the
428:
251:
31:
1705:Japanese puppet state
1536:Laos: a country study
806:, Luang Prabang, and
742:Seventh-day Adventist
731:
422:
234:
21:
2497:United Arab Emirates
1841:World Heritage Sites
724:Christianity in Laos
665:Most Lao Theung and
331:The renunciation of
275:Royal Lao Government
2524:limited recognition
1740:Vietnamese invasion
1695:French protectorate
1545:Library of Congress
1490:, pp. 132–133.
1425:, pp. 131–132.
1368:, pp. 130–131.
1267:, pp. 129–130.
990:Pew Research Center
943:That Luang Festival
886:Freedom of religion
752:Church property in
550:Tai folk religion (
501:Buddhist ceremonies
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2005:Telecommunications
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1750:History until 1945
1144:2012-10-10 at the
787:, Champassak, and
763:Approximately 400
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1488:Savada 1995
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2149:Festivals
2056:Education
2020:Transport
1936:President
1924:President
1877:Elections
1784:Geography
1685:Champasak
1680:Vientiane
938:Phra Bang
863:temples.
777:Sayaboury
595:Mon-Khmer
587:Tai-Kadai
556:sasna phi
453:Theravada
446:Vientiane
404:Religions
393:festivals
374:Vientiane
337:communist
326:suffering
182:Catholics
167:Mon-Khmer
137:Theravada
84:Theravada
2611:Category
2532:Abkhazia
2482:Thailand
2437:Pakistan
2417:Mongolia
2412:Maldives
2407:Malaysia
2307:Cambodia
2209:Category
2101:Religion
2091:Language
2076:COVID-19
1914:Military
1855:Politics
1836:Wildlife
1816:Phou Bia
1670:Vat Phou
1665:Lan Xang
1645:Peopling
1629:articles
1563:32394600
1142:Archived
1120:cite web
897:See also
667:Lao Sung
623:Lao Sung
611:Lao Loum
505:Funerals
461:Cambodia
409:Buddhism
357:ordained
353:Thailand
236:Vat Phou
175:Buddhist
159:Thai Dam
140:Buddhism
129:Lao Loum
87:Buddhism
49:Buddhism
2507:Vietnam
2422:Myanmar
2402:Lebanon
2332:Georgia
2287:Bahrain
2277:Armenia
2193:Outline
2134:Cuisine
2121:Culture
2034:Society
2010:Tourism
1995:Fishing
1960:Economy
1796:Borders
1637:History
789:Attapeu
758:Thakhek
692:shamans
650:rituals
630:animist
615:Lao Lom
576:shamans
534:Vietnam
457:Myanmar
314:Marxism
279:refugee
267:leftist
227:History
133:Lao Lom
61:(30.7%)
51:(66.0%)
2552:Taiwan
2487:Turkey
2452:Russia
2387:Kuwait
2367:Jordan
2357:Israel
2317:Cyprus
2302:Brunei
2297:Bhutan
2214:Portal
2174:Sports
2144:Emblem
2129:Anthem
2066:Health
1990:Energy
1821:Rivers
1811:Mekong
1627:
1561:
1551:
1516:"Laos"
1307:. In:
1096:. 2007
1086:"Laos"
850:Taoism
740:, the
708:chants
700:trance
676:taboos
491:murals
487:bamboo
271:sangha
200:, and
117:Buddha
75:
71:(1.5%)
67:
65:
57:
55:
47:
45:
41:2015)
2593:Macau
2512:Yemen
2472:Syria
2447:Qatar
2427:Nepal
2362:Japan
2337:India
2327:Egypt
2312:China
2200:Index
2164:Music
2111:Women
2080:Delta
2046:Crime
1831:Towns
861:Hindu
800:Bokeo
682:Hmong
642:khwan
529:India
479:vihan
369:nadir
322:equal
290:sects
256:monks
248:Shiva
244:Hindu
240:Khmer
194:Islam
109:stupa
105:stupa
28:stupa
2432:Oman
2397:Laos
2352:Iraq
2347:Iran
2154:Flag
2083:cron
2078:and
1982:Kip
1625:Laos
1587:link
1559:OCLC
1549:ISBN
1126:link
1102:2021
993:2015
848:and
770:Khmu
621:and
613:and
591:Khmu
570:and
564:Laos
367:The
310:LPDR
308:The
296:and
246:god
184:and
169:and
161:and
131:and
107:, a
93:Laos
22:The
2564:and
2071:HIV
1904:Law
605:),
583:Lao
552:Lao
474:Wat
361:wat
178:phi
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