Ho Gou

HO GOU VANG NA

The “Kham Ho” is an annual ceremony during which ancestor worship is celebrated in a sacred place, open to all (descendants, families, friends, acquaintances, villagers), without being touristy or publicized.

The living honor the ancestors, who have become benevolent, protective and immortal deities (today we have seven deities) by inviting them into the mortal world and accepting the offerings intended for them.

Mè Lieng, the current medium whose name is Mi (96 years old), plays a fundamental role because she is for us like the bridge that connects the world of spirits to the world of the living.

The Kouane Ho (or Kouane Tcham) also plays a major role, since he is the one who is in charge of the ceremony.

According to the Buddhist calendar (which follows the lunar calendar), Kham Ho always begins on “7 kham”, or the 7th night from the new moon of the 4th Lao month (which corresponds to the month of February or March of the calendar Gregorian).

The ceremony takes place over 4 days (not counting the many preparations: organization, storage, cleaning – before and after – to ensure the ritual runs smoothly):

• 7 Kham : “Meu Phad Mak”
• 8 Kham : “Meu Kham Ho”
• 9 Kham : “Meu Kè Sao”
• 10 Kham : “Meu Soukhouane Mè Lieng”