Photograph circulated in Laos supposedly depicting a "phaya naga" captured in Laos by U.S. servicemen in 1968
The Phaya Naga or Naga are serpent-like creatures believed by locals to live in the Laotian stretch of the Mekong river. People in both Laos and Thailand attribute the Naga fireballs to these creatures, which are likely to be extremely overgrown Giant Mottled Eels (Anguilla marmorata) or an undiscovered species of eel. Image File history File links Photograph of US servicemen in Laos during the Vietnam War with a captured Mekong Dragon, Phaya Naga, Mekong Naga or enormously overgrown eel. ... Image File history File links Photograph of US servicemen in Laos during the Vietnam War with a captured Mekong Dragon, Phaya Naga, Mekong Naga or enormously overgrown eel. ... Motto: Peace, Independence, Democracy, Unity and Prosperity Anthem: Pheng Xat Lao Capital Vientiane Largest city Vientiane Official language(s) Lao Government President Prime Minister Communist state Khamtai Siphandon Boungnang Vorachith Independence - Date From France 19 July 1949 Area • Total • Water (%) 236,800 km² (80th) 2% Population • 2005 est. ... View of the Mekong before the sunset The Mekong is one of the worlds major rivers. ... The Naga fireballs (Thai บั้งไฟพญานาค, bangfai payanak) are a phenomenon seen in Nong Khai province, Isan, Thailand and Laos, in which glowing balls rise from the Mekong river. ... Families Suborder Anguilloidei Anguillidae (freshwater eels) Heterenchelyidae Moringuidae (worm eels) Xenocongridae (false morays) Muraenidae (moray eels) Myrocongridae Suborder Nemichthyoidei Nemichthyidae (snipe eels) Serrivomeridae (sawtooth snipe eels) Cyemidae (bobtail snipe eels) Suborder Congroidei Congridae (congers) Muraenesocidae (conger pikes) Nettastomatidae (witch eels) Nessorhamphidae (duckbilled eels) Derichthyidae (neck eels) Ophichthidae (snake eels) Macrocephenchelyidae...
History
Lao myth maintains that the Naga are the protectors of Vientiane, and by extension, the Lao state. The Naga association was most clearly articulated during and immediately after the reign of Anouvong. Leup Phasun, an important poem from this period discusses relations between Laos and Siam in a veiled manner, using the Naga and the Garuda, to represent Laos and Siam, respectively. The Naga is incorporated extensively into Lao iconography, and features prominently in Lao culture throughout the length of the country, not only in Vientiane. However no concrete Pha That Luang temple. ... Anouvong was the last king of Vientiane, ruling 1805-1828. ... For the country formerly called Siam see Thailand SIAM is an acronym for Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. ... Garuda according to Ida Made Tlaga, an 19th century Balinese artist. ...
Known as the "Bang Fai PhayaNaga", the King of Naga fire-balls is a natural phenomenon that generally takes place on the full moon night of the 11th lunar month, the last night of the Buddhist Lent.
The Naga design element is incorporated into the architectural style, and depicted as motifs on structures such as temples, the palaces and stone sanctuaries of the divine kings, traditional textiles as well as the range of modern buildings such as hotels, offices, and schools.
Hence in Buddhist temple architecture, the Naga is either depicted coiled around the outer walls of the temple or along the stairs leading to the entrance to the temple.
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