5th Century Wat Phou Hindu Temple Complex in Laos

5th Century Wat Phou Hindu Temple Complex in Laos 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Laos to attend ASEAN Summit. His visit led to curiosity about searching & knowing Laos and also finding out the existence of Hindu temple there. 

I was surprised to find a whole complex of ancient Hindu temple  located on the side of a symbolic sacred mountainside called Phou Khao overlooking an ancient city. This temple complex is known as UNESCO world heritage temples of Wat Phou.

Courtesy: worldheritage.routes.travel

Wat Phou is a ruined khmer Hindu temple compex in southern part of Laos, almost 10 km from a quaint town Champasak positioned directly on the banks of the Mekong river. The complex dates back to 5th and 6th century AD and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.


The temple has a unique structure, in which the elements lead to a shrine. In the shrine a lingam dedicated to Lord Shiva was bathed in water from a mountain spring. This site later became a centre of Theravada Buddhism.

Courtesy: trekity.com

Wat Phou was originally associated with the city of Shrestapura which lay on the bank of Mekong river directly east of Lingaparvata Mountain now known as Phou Khao .


The most impressive part of this temple complex is its carvings, cut deep into the stone. They are breathtaking and true masterpiece of  intricate craftsmanship. 

Courtesy:iwandered.net

This enchanting Wat Phou Hindu Temple Complex demonstrates pervasive and deep influence of Indian religion, art & culture in most of the South East Asian countries. 

Courtesy:alamy.com

Wat Phou  is a tourist destination where it is still possible to stay in silence and behold and enjoy ancient wonder of peace and tranquility.

Around 70% Laotians are Theravada Buddhist and hence Buddhism has been one of the most important social forces in Laos and also a dominant influence  in Laos culture.

Friendly Stone War Fair - Gotmar Mela of Pandhurna Madhya Pradesh India

Friendly Stone War Fair - "Gotmar" Mela of Pandhurna 

Madhya Pradesh India 

It is a war , war with stones but still a friendly war between two villages separated by a river.  "Got" means stone and "Mar" means to beat.  This is celebrated  every year as festival in the Chhindwara district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and popularly known as "Gotmar Mela". Not only that, many people get severely injured, some die even but this tradition of past 300 years continues even after ban on it. 

Courtesy :patrika.com

This is an event unique to this place. Every year a tree trunk is placed by people of Sawargaon in the middle of the river Jam. The river Jam flows through Pandhurna and Sawargaon. A flag is tied on the top of this tree trunk. People gather either side of the river bank in the morning - one side from Pandhurna and other side from Sawargaon. People from Sawargaon try to save the tree trunk with flag from the people of Pandhurna through throwing stones. People of Pandhurna try to push back Sawargaon people and try to cut the trunk with flag and bring into Pandhurna till evening they are the winner. After pulling the tree trunk with flag  into Padhurna , people carry this flag to Chandika mata temple. If people of Pandhurna are unable to do so  till evening then mutually both side people cut the tree trunk and bring it to Chandika mata temple. This is a very strange custom in which many people get severely injured and some of them die even.

Courtesy:youtube.com

"Gotmar Mela" is celebrated every year on the second day to 'Bhadrapad' new moon day.

But one question suddenly but naturally  comes into the mind of every one. Why is this mela celebrated?

Courtesy:chhindwara.net

According to some historical facts , it is believed that once upon a time a ruler of Pandhurna came to know about the beauty of the daughter of Emperor of  Sawargaon. After hearing the beauty, the ruler of Pandhurna could not stop himself, crossed the river and abducted the girl. After learning this incident people of Sawargaon chased him but by that time he had crossed  river Jam. Frustrated villagers of Sawargaon started throwing stones at him . Meanwhile people of Pandhurna also gathered on the other side of the river bank and began to throw stones on the people of Sawargaon to protect their ruler and allow him to reach his palace safely. 

From that day onwards, this bloody tradition has come to be known as "Gotmar Mela". 

A Banyan Tree Cries "I am under arrest" since 1898

A Banyan Tree Cries "I am under arrest" since 1898

The world is a place full of bizarre news- full of funny, strange and peculiar happenings. Such news has absolutely no logic, no proper explanation. But still they exist, they continue to exist.

Courtesy: scoopwhoop.com

Let us go to Landi Kotal Cantonment area of one of our neighbouring  countries Pakistan where a huge banyan tree is kept chained since 1898 to prevent it from moving.

An interesting story goes behind this. A British Army officer James Squid was walking under the influence of alcohol. It appeared to him that this Banyan tree was lurching towards him. He got threatened by the attempt of the tree and in a fit of anger ordered his mess sergeant to arrest the tree.

Since then that is 1898 the tree is chained and is under arrest. One can find one board " I am under arrest" hanging on this tree for over 118 years.

Courtesy: scoopwhoop.com

According to some locals, the British tried to signal the tribal people, through this act, that they would also meet the similar fate if they happened to go against the government.

The Banyan tree is still in chains and the chains have not be removed so that cruelty of British Raj can be demonstrated.

Whatever may be the reason, the tree in captivity has made the area very popular  for one of the most strange acts ever.