Buddha statue adorned with crowning glory

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) - Xieng Khuang authorities last weekend placed a 4kg gold headpiece on the top of an under-construction 38-metre high Buddha statue at Hai Hin Mixayyaram temple in Thongmixay village, Paek district which, when complete, will be the largest in the province.

Deputy Director of the province’s Information, Culture and Tourism Department, Mr Sivilay Oudomsouk, told Vientiane Times on Monday the placing of the embellishment on the head of the statue meant the structure was now over 90 percent complete.

It is estimated that the statue will cost at least 16 billion kip. It has been built using donations from people in Laos and overseas, according to the temple’s Abbot. When the statue is finished, Hai Hin Mixayyaram will be the largest temple complex in the province, with the added attraction of being at the top of a hill and visible for miles around.

The project is part of Xieng Khuang’s efforts to raise its cultural profile and add to its visitor attractions. A groundbreaking ceremony for the statue took place on December 11, 2015.

The statue is 38 metres high and 16 metres wide. The temple has further plans for enlargement and will build a monastery, an ordination hall, and other facilities.

The temple is located about one kilometre from the Plain of Jars and offers panoramic views over the plains and the provincial capital.

When the temple complex is complete it will be a place for dharma and meditation, while also showcasing Lao culture and being a place of prayer for Buddhist devotees.

It is expected that festivals and other events will be celebrated at the temple in the years to come.

The authorities are also planning developments around the temple, which could include a special economic zone and a tourism zone.

Source(s)

  • Vientiane Times

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