The Embassy of India in Vientiane on Monday hosted a celebration of the International Gita Mahotsav, commemorating the timeless message of the Bhagavad Gita delivered by Lord Krishna to Arjuna on the first day of the Mahabharata battle in Kurukshetra, Haryana, India. The event marks the observance of Gita Jayanti, celebrated to honour the profound spiritual discourse that continues to inspire seekers of peace, harmony, and righteous living. The ceremony was addressed by Chargé d’Affaires, Mr Rohit Babbar, who underscored Gita’s guidance on righteous conduct and its role in promoting peace and universal brotherhood. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from senior monks, members of the Indian diaspora, and Lao nationals. A special dance performance by students of the Sathya Sai School in Vientiane added a vibrant dimension to the celebration, also reflecting the spirit of devotion and cultural sharing.

The Laos-Vietnam Friendship Park, located in Dongmakkhai village in Xaythany district, Vientiane, will soon officially open to honour the 50th anniversary of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and the 105th anniversary of the birth of the late President Kaysone Phomvihane.   --Photo Vientiane Promotion Board

The Vientiane province branch of the Red Cross last week wrapped up a one-year project on Disaster Risk Reduction and Health Promotion. Thanks to support from the Red Cross Society of China, the initiative assisted 14 villages in Mad, Kasy and Xanakham districts. Key achievements included equipping communities with early warning systems, training local volunteers and disaster prevention teams, installing new water supply systems, and providing First Aid training.

Participants from UNICEF and a leadership team from the Lao Women’s Union view a photo exhibition of projects that aim to scale up support for parents and caregivers during pregnancy and the first two years of a child’s life. The Lao Women’s Union, Government of Australia and UNICEF, together with government ministries, development partners and civil society, recently convened a national parenting forum to scale up support for parents and caregivers at these vital times.

Government officials, representatives of the World Bank, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the World Meteorological Organisation and other development partners gather in Vientiane on Wednesday to launch the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems 2.0 project and initiate its implementation. The event showcased the newly approved project and harnessed support at the local, national and international levels for strengthening early warning systems in Laos.