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The origins of the Boun Bang Fai festival go back a long way.

It seems the Buddha was a very popular toad in one of his former incarnations. The rain god was jealous of him and stopped the rains for 7 years, 7 months and 7 days. But then, with the help of termites and scorpions, Toad Buddha vanquished the rain god. A deal was struck, a promise made - no more droughts.

Nevertheless, as a gentle reminder, the Lao people send their rockets up to the heavens when it's time for the rains to begin.

Cross-dressing is also part of the festivities, but where that came from, I'm not quite sure.