(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kandra Konboukay, 7 stands by her mother as she makes a papaya salad, during the Wat Lao Salt Lake Buddharam Utah, New Year Celebration, in West Valley City,
Sunday, April 28, 2019.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Participants make donations to the monks, at the Wat Lao Salt Lake Buddharam Utah, New Year Celebration, in West Valley City, Sunday, April 28, 2019.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Khamvang Kaykeo dishes up some grilled chicken, during the Wat Lao Salt Lake Buddharam Utah, New Year Celebration, in West Valley City, Sunday, April 28, 2019.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Mariah Somehanmadong placed first in the pageant, at the Wat Lao Salt Lake Buddharam Utah, New Year Celebration, in West Valley City, Sunday, April 28, 2019.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Menna Tren pours holy water over the Buddha, at the Wat Lao Salt Lake Buddharam Utah, New Year Celebration, in West Valley City, Sunday, April 28, 2019.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jawmarana Trai 8, puts money in the bank for the monks, during the Wat Lao Salt Lake Buddharam Utah, New Year Celebration, in West Valley City, Sunday, April 28, 2019.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Proceeds from this years festival goes towards the construction of the Assembly Hall, at the Wat Lao Salt Lake Buddharam Utah, New Year Celebration, in West Valley City, Sunday, April 28, 2019.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The monks eat their daily meal, at the Wat Lao Salt Lake Buddharam Utah, New Year Celebration, in West Valley City, Sunday, April 28, 2019.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) A man worships at the Wat Lao Salt Lake Buddharam Utah, New Year Celebration, in West Valley City, Sunday, April 28, 2019.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jawmarana Trai 8, puts money in the bank for the monks, during the Wat Lao Salt Lake Buddharam Utah, New Year Celebration, in West Valley City, Sunday, April 28, 2019.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Alea Tsone, 4, puts money in the banks for the Buddha, at the Wat Lao Salt Lake Buddharam Utah, New Year Celebration, in West Valley City, Sunday, April 28, 2019.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) AJ Bhanthamisay leads the procession during the Bak Baht, at the Wat Lao Salt Lake Buddharam Utah, New Year Celebration, in West Valley City, Sunday, April 28, 2019.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kandra 7, and Daisee 8, wear their traditional clothes for the Wat Lao Salt Lake Buddharam Utah, New Year Celebration, in West Valley City, Sunday, April 28, 2019.
Hundreds gathered on Sunday at the Wat Lao Salt Lake Buddharam of Utah Temple for the Lao New Year Festival. The festival celebrates the Lao new year in a two day celebration featuring music, dancing, a pageant and cultural performances, as well as Lao, Thai and Cambodian food. Donations from the festival go toward the new Assembly Hall, which is under construction.
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Rick has been a staff photographer at The Tribune since 1984. Previous to The Tribune, he was photo editor at the Daily Universe Newspaper at BYU and worked at The Sun Advocate in Price, Utah.