All about Baci:

Many tourists to Laos are welcomed to small villages with a Baci ceremony, and in the latest issue of Champa Holidays magazine, Somsanouk Mixay presents the background of this tradition in a short essay entitled "Soo Kwan: Calling the spirits that inhabit the human body".

He explains how pre-14th century Lao people were Animists and believed in spirits (Phee), and though Laos is now a Buddhist country, the belief in spirits is still widely held, even among the Buddhists.

Somsanouk goes on to introduce the existence of Kwan, the spirits that inhabit the main parts of the human body, a notion he says runs parallel to Buddhism.

Every section of the human body has its own Kwan, from the eyes and eyebrows to bones. Kwan are also believed to be volatile, and can leave their body parts during major life experiences such as illness, an accident, a long journey, and change of social position.

To facilitate the return of a Kwan, a Baci or Soo Kwan ceremony must be carried out. These are held within the family, in businesses, and to welcome guests.

To download "Soo Kwan: Calling the spirits that inhabit the human body", click here.

To view this issue of Champa Holidays, visit: www.champaholiday.com.

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