Phra Bang

The Phra Bang (Lao: ພະບາງ, pronounced [pʰāʔ bàːŋ]; Thai: พระบาง, pronounced [pʰráʔ bāːŋ], "Royal Buddha Image in the Dispelling Fear mudra") is a statue of Buddha in the city of Luang Prabang, Laos; it is the namesake of that city.

The statue stands at 83-centimetre (33 in)s, with palms facing forward, cast using thong, an alloy of bronze, gold, and silver.

[citation needed] The Phra Bang arrived in Lan Xang during the reign of Fa Ngum from Angkor and was used to spread Theravada Buddhism in the new kingdom.

The Phra Bang has long been seen by devout Buddhists as a symbol of the right to rule Laos, as only a commendable and virtuous government deserves to be caretaker of such a sacred image.

There, it is exhibited at a shrine, where the Buddha image is ritually bathed by devout laypeople during new year festivities.