Vat Phou marks 10th anniversary as World Heritage Site

(KPL) A rally to mark the 10th anniversary of Vat Phou's listing by UNESCO as a World Heritage site was officially held on 16 February in Champassak province. In the afternoon, crowds assembled to gaze in admiration at the colourful parades and took part in a religious ceremony. Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, Minister of Information and Culture Mounkeo Oraboun, Champassak province Governor Sonesay Siphandone, ministers and other high-ranking government officials were in attendance. Ambassadors and officials from the UNESCO office in Thailand and delegations from neighbouring countries also took part in the event to share Laos's pride of its second World Heritage site. Mr Sonesay said Vat Phou was an outstanding site and ideally located in a rural setting, flanked by ponds amid natural beauty, and linked by road to Cambodia.
'Vat Phou has long been recognised for the way it represents the long standing culture of an ancient people through its special architecture,' he said. Since Vat Phou, the Khmer-styled ruined stone houses, was given world heritage status by UNESCO in 2001, the province has become a popular tourist destination. It now draws some 400,000 visitors each year, who contribute to the local economic and tourism growth. Mr Somsavat said local people were delighted to have a world-renowned site on their doorstep and took great care to conserve the area and protect the ancient complex. 'More and more visitors are coming to the province to learn about the history of Laos, which helps create jobs for local people,'he said. Mr Somsavat urged villagers to band together to protect the site, and educate young people about its importance. He thanked foreign countries and organisations, including UNESCO, for providing funds and training officials to maintain the site. Vat Phou is located at the base of Phou Kao mountain, about 6km from the Mekong River. There was a temple on this site dating back as early as the 5th century.
Vat Phou has a unique structure, in which the elements lead to a shrine where a linga was bathed in water from a mountain spring. The site later became a centre of Theravada Buddhist worship, which has continued until today. The celebrations will run until February 18 and include a trade fair as well as cultural and religious ceremonies, with an alms giving rite scheduled on the morning of the last day.