Vietnam is a country with a rich and diverse culture, which is reflected in many aspects of its people’s life. One of the most colorful and attractive events in Vietnam is the Ok om bok Festival, which is held by the Khmer ethnic minority group in the Mekong Delta region. The Ok om bok Festival is also known as Ok Om Bok or Cung Trang, which means Moon Worship or Offering to the Moon. The Ok om bok Festival is a way of showing gratitude and respect to the Moon Goddess, who provides them with abundant resources and protection. The Ok om bok Festival is also a way of praying for favorable weather, good harvest, and prosperity in the new year.
The origin and the meaning of the Ok om bok Festival
The Ok om bok Festival is believed to have originated from the ancient times, when the Khmer people lived in harmony with nature and worshiped the water gods. The Ok om bok Festival was a way of showing gratitude and respect to the water gods, who gave them water, fish, and rice. The Ok om bok Festival was also a way of celebrating the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the dry season, when the water level in the rivers and canals was high and the rice fields were green and fertile.
The name “Ok om bok” translates to “water pushing away the big boat.” This refers to the central event of the festival: the traditional Ngo boat race. These long, narrow boats are decorated with intricate carvings and colorful flags, symbolizing prosperity and good luck. The race itself is a test of strength, teamwork, and skill, and it represents the Khmer people’s connection to their riverine environment.
The diversity and the beauty of the Ok om bok Festival
The Ok om bok Festival varies from one province to another, but it is mainly celebrated in Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, An Giang, and Kien Giang, where the Khmer people are concentrated. The Ok om bok Festival involves two main activities: the moon worship and the boat racing.
The moon worship is the part when the Khmer people prepare and offer food, flowers, incense, and paper money to the Moon Goddess, who is seen as the mother and the protector of the people. The moon worship takes place at night, when the moon is full and bright. The Khmer people gather in front of the pagodas or their houses, and place the offerings on a tray or a table. They also light lanterns and candles, and release sky lanterns and floating lanterns, which create a magical and festive atmosphere. The Khmer people pray and chant for the Moon Goddess to receive their offerings and to bless them with luck and happiness in the new year.
The boat racing is the part when the Khmer people compete in a traditional sport that showcases their skills and teamwork. The boat racing takes place during the day, on the rivers and canals that are abundant and wide in the Mekong Delta. The boat racing involves long and curved boats, called ghe ngo, which are about 24 meters long and can carry about 40 people. The boats are decorated with colorful patterns and animal heads, and are rowed by young men and women, who wear matching costumes and hats. The boat racing is accompanied by music, such as gongs and cheers, which create rhythm and excitement for the racers and the spectators. The boat racing is not only a game, but also a ritual to farewell the water god to the sea after the harvest, and a religious ritual to honor Nagar, the snake god, who helped the Buddha cross the river.
The Ok om bok Festival is a unique and meaningful feature of the Mekong Delta, which has been preserved and passed down for generations. It is not only a festival, but also a cultural expression and a spiritual practice of the Khmer people. By understanding and respecting the Ok om bok Festival, we can appreciate and celebrate the life and the spirit of the Khmer people.
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