1.
GV PAN: CROWD.
0.04

2.
MV PEOPLE SING AND DANCE.
0.08

3.
CU MUSICIAN.
0.09

4.
CU BONGO DRUM.
0.12

5.
SV MEN CARRY ROCKET.
0.19

6.
LV ROCKET CARRIED.
0.24

7.
MV ROCKET LOWERED TO GROUND.
0.30

8.
SV SPECTATORS.
0.32

9.
LV & SV MEN PREPARE ROCKET ATOP LAUNCHING RAMP.
0.38

10.
LV ROCKET MISFIRES.
0.44

11.
CU CHILDREN.
0.48

12.
GV SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH.
0.54

13.
MV CHILDREN.
0.56

14.
LV MISFIRE.
1.00

15.
LV ANOTHER MISFIRE.
1.08

16.
MV ONLOOKERS.
1.12

17.
LV ROCKET LAUNCHED - DIVES TO GROUND.
1.18

18.
GV PAN: CROWD WITH SMOKE WAFTING.
1.24



Initials ERW/VS/JF/SC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: IN VIENTIANE, ON SATURDAY (11 MAY), LAOTIANS CELEBRATED THE COMING THE MONSOON SEASON IN TRADITIONAL FASHION WITH A ROCKET FESTIVAL. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GATHERED AT A HUGE, WOODEN LAUNCHING RAMP TO SEE THE ROCKETS, SOME OF WHICH WERE MORE THAN THIRTY FEET LONG.

A CARNIVAL ATMOSPHERE PREVAILED AT THE FESTIVAL, AN ANNUAL AFFAIR, WITH MUSICIANS PROVIDING A SUITABLE BACKGROUND ACCOMPANIMENT AND THE CROWD JOINING IN THE SPIRIT OF THINGS WITH SONGS AND DANCING.

THEN CAME THE ROCKETS, CARRIED CAREFULLY TO THE LAUNCHING SITE, WITH A GREAT DEAL OF CEREMONY. THE FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR THE LAUNCHING WERE CARRIED OUT IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION, ATOP THE LAUNCHING RAMP.

IN THE TRUE TRADITIONS OF ROCKETRY, NOT EVERY LAUNCHING WAS SUCCESSFUL, BUT THE CROWD SEEMED TO ENJOY THE MISFIRES ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE SUCCESSFUL FIRINGS. THE CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY, WERE MORE INTERESTED IN THE MISFIRES BECAUSE IT GAVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A HURRIED AND SOMEWHAT DANGEROUS DASH TO THE RAMP, TO COLLECT THE UNBURNT GUNPOWDER.

IN LAOS, THE FIRING OF ROCKETS SIGNIFIES FERTILITY AND IS BELIEVED TO ENSURE A BOUNTIFUL SEASON, WITH PLENTY OF RAIN FOR THE NEWLY PLANTED CROPS.