By Phetsamone PHOMMUNY

(KPL) A ritual to signify the beginning of the gold casting of the That Luang stupa will be held on Oct 2 at 14:00 at That Luang Square, according to Director of the Information, Culture and Tourism Department of Vientiane Capital Khampradith Khemmanith.

Currently over 10 kilograms of gold and more than 142 million kip (over US$17,500) have been donated by individuals and the business community for the renovation of That Luang along with over THB 2 million, over US$300 and CNY 500.

The renovation of Phra That Luang is estimated to cost about 10 billion kip (over US$1.2 million), according to Mr Khampradith.

“This will be the fourth major renovation of Phra That Luang though other renovations have taken place at Phra That Luang including in 1819, 1930, 1976, 1993, and 1996,” said Mr Khampradith.

Pha That Luang, the iconic symbol of Vientiane Capital, is a huge golden stupa built in 1566.

Its golden color is not paint but is literally covered in gold. Pha That Luang Temple is one of the most representative places of Buddhism and the splendor of Laos, as well as being a monument of national pride.

The stupa stands 45 m high and is 69 m wide. It was built in pyramidal shape and is surrounded in turn by 30 smaller stupas. The Pha That Luang Stupa is covered with 500 kilos of gold leaf, a precious metal that achieves such impressive golden color and is a symbol of the splendour of Laos.

Pha That Luang was built on 3 levels, which symbolize the ascent from the Earth to the sky. The first level is the underworld, the second level represents the 30 perfections of Buddhism and the third and final level, the prelude to the Kingdom of Heaven. Each level is narrower than the previous level, for example the first level is 69 meters wide, the second level is 47 meters, and the last level is just 29 metres.

KPL