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Laos religion has had a strong impact on the culture and the society of Laos. Buddhism forms the primary religion of Laos. Together with Buddhism other Laos's faiths such as animism and spirit worship are also followed by the Lao people. But it is Buddhism which rules. Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism are other Laos's religions. Christians and Muslims form the minority religious groups.
With two thirds of the Laos population practicing Theravada Buddhism it is the major religion in Laos. Buddhism was brought into Laos by the Buddhist monks who had entered the country a long time back. It is made up of native and foreign beliefs, rituals and customs. The practices of Thailand have been borrowed by Lao people to a large extent who infused them into their own religious practices.
The Theravada Buddhist temples consist of the Hindu deities, Brahma and Indra. They were taken up by Siam after the capture of Angkor. Buddhist influences are reflected in the art and architecture of Laos. Stupas and other structures are made in Buddhist styles. Literature too has been colored by Laos's religions.
The Vietnamese and the Chinese people who settled in Laos brought with them Mahayana Buddhism. This too has become one of the other religions of Laos. Hindu gods like Ganesh or Mahayana Buddhist deity like Kuan Yin exist alongside Buddha structures.
Spirit worship forms an interesting aspect of Lao religion. "Spirit Houses"(similar to dolls house or temples built on pedestals) are constructed by the Lao people to provide the spirits of their ancestors with a home.
Laos's religion will remain incomplete without a mention of animism. Some tribes inhabiting the midlands and the highlands are animists. Ancestor worship is done by many highland tribes who migrated from China and settled in Laos. These include the Akha, Hmong and the Mien.
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