[Tlc] L-Lao New year

[justinm at ucr.edu]

FYI from our friend Niphasone Souphom.
Thanks,
justin


Celebrate, Collaborate, Educate, and Advocate 30+ years in the United States


Greetings Members & Friends of LHF,

It is with great pride and joy that LHF is co-hosting the first ever International Lao New Year Festival in San Francisco this April 10-11-12, 2009, with an all day festival on April 11, 2009 at the San Francisco Civic Center Plaza. Please follow the link www.laonewyear.com for more information about this exciting event, free and open to the public at large. This much anticipated event is bringing together Lao communities across the US to showcase the traditions and culture of the people from Laos.

San Francisco was hub to many Lao refugees in the late 70's and early 80's before they were dispersed all over the US. San Francisco Bay Area/North California is also home to the largest Lao population in the US (over 35,000). And the weather in San Francisco in April is conducive to a Lao New Year festival with all the water activities! That's why San Francisco was chosen as gathering place for this historic festival. There will be a commemorative opening ceremony at the Hamilton Air Force Base in Novato, California (just north of San Francisco) where most Southeast Asian refugees transited before relocating to other parts of the US.

Some of the festival highlights:

-Cultural programs with taak baht, baci soukhouane, Buddha image procession and parade

-Performances of traditional music and dance from the multi Lao ethnic communities

-Lao artists from as far as Laos and England, and many Lao- American recording artists

-Kato Lao championship demonstration (by Sepak Takraw USA Team)

-100's of booths (food, arts, crafts, businesses, workshops, etc)

-Free documentary screening of the 2009 Oscar Nominated "Nerakhoon" or "The Betrayal" by Thavisouk Phrasavath and and Ellen Kuras

-“Buffalo Roaming” Story writing on life size water buffalos

-Green papaya salad contest

-Kite flying

-Water splashing activities


As you know, it takes a lot of time, energy, and financial resources to put on an event of this magnitude FOR ALL and to represent ALL LAO across the globe. LHF needs your support and invites you to join in our efforts to bring about awareness and celebrate our heritage for the world to see by contributing $20 or more to the event. To make your tax-deductible donation, go to

http://www.laonewyear.com/ilnyf_donors.html

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,


Niphasone Souphom
President 


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______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu