National Symbols
The Official Flag
The official flag which became effective in 1975 after the Monarchy was overthrown by the current Communist state. White symbolizes justice and the promise of the future. Blue stands for prosperity. Red represents unity and purpose and the blood that was shed during the struggle for freedom.
The Royal Flag
The old flag was used during the monarchial times. The image was the three headed elephant on top of a stand with an umbrella (or parasol) on top. The three headed elephant image is Buddhist/Hindu in origin - its called Airavata (or Erawan in Thai & Cambodia). The elephant has always been a symbol of greatness, wisdom and as a vehicle. Many former Lao kings prized these huge beasts, especially the light colour/albino-like elephants. To this day, the current Lao government still keeps a few for special occasions and celebrations. Coincidentally, the three headed mythic elephant symbol had the same number as there were principalities. Thus the three heads came to represent the former small kingdoms of Vientiane, Luangprabang, and Xiengkhoung. The umbrella also has certain meanings. In Sri Lanka and India, Buddhist temples were in the shape of huge domes and on top of the dome there would be a small umbrella (or parasol) surrounded by square railings. The highest point of the dome or pillar, in this case, the umbrella represents the Buddhist cosmological myth of Mt. Meru being the center of the universe. The flag's background color red represents the blood of the people. The stand on which the elephant is standing on represents the laws of the country/kingdom.
The National Emblem
The national emblem or seal features a near-complete circle formed by curving rice stalks which enclose six component symbols of the productive proletarian stat: Vientiane's Pha That Luang (which represents religion); a checkerboard of rice fields (agriculture); gear cogs (industry); a dam ((energy); a highway (transport); and a grove of trees (forestry). At the bottom under the gear cog, there is a red ribbon with the inscription in Lao “Sathalanalat Pasathipatai Pasason Lao” meaning which is the official name of the country - Lao People's Democratic Republic.
