(KPL) The 17^th Elephant Festival was launched on Saturday, Feb 17, at the main square of Xayabury Province.

President Thongloun Sisoulith, his spouse, Governor of Xayabury Phongsavan Hitthavong, attended the opening ceremony of the festival along with senior officials of relevant authorities and local people.

Xayabury Elephant Festival has been held in February, every year since 2007. This year 2024, the province has upgraded the Festival to a national level, according to Vice Governor of Xayaboury Province and Chairman of the Xayaboury Elephant Festival Organising Committee Phetphixay Sounvilay.

“This festival aims to promote the preservation of Lao elephants because they are heritage and respected animals of the country. It also aims to further promote the protection of fine cultures and traditions and lifestyles of the multi-ethnic Lao people in Xayaboury who have lived their life with elephants since time immemorial,” said Phetphixay Sounvilay.

The festival has brought together 75 elephants from across the province. It allows mahouts (elephant keepers) to exchange lessons with their fellows about elephant raising, and provides visitors with the opportunity to learn about how elephants live.

Visitors can enjoy shows by tamed elephants, a trade fair featuring over 300 booths of One District One Product (ODOP) goods, agricultural products, handicrafts, processing industrial products from 11 districts across the province, innovations from domestic and foreign producers, along with an alms giving and parachute shows by the Air Force Battalion.

KPL