Ooc Om Bok Festival, also called the Festival of Worshiping the Moon, will take place in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang from November 16-22, with various activities to celebrate the traditional Khmer festival.
"Ngo" boat race at last year's Ooc Om Bok festival
(Photo: VNA)
A moon-offering ritual, lantern-release ceremony, photo exhibition, Khmer
traditional dance festival and trade and cuisine fair will be held during the
event.
Notably, a "Ngo” boat race - the highlight of the festival - is scheduled for
November 21-22, bringing together 48 teams from Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau,
Hau Giang and Vinh Long provinces.
In addition, there will be a workshop on enhancing local small- and
medium-sized enterprises’ capacity to approach the Fourth Industrial Revolution
(Industry 4.0).
According to Danh Phuong, deputy head of the board for ethnic minority affairs
of Soc Trang province, the event aims to preserve and promote traditional
values of Khmer people while popularising local strengths in economy, culture
and tourism.
Ooc Om Bok is three main festivals, along with Sene Dolta and Chol Chnam Thmay,
that Khmer people celebrate every year. It begins around 7-8 pm on the evening
of 14th of the 10th lunar month when the moon’s position is high in the sky.
Khmer people celebrate at home outdoors or at Khmer pagodas, praying for good
luck, happiness, good weather and bumper crops.
Source: VNA
Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.
Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.
The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.
For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.
Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.
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