The Ok-Om-Bok festival, a moon worshiping ritual performed by the Khmer ethnic people included a series of cultural activities , such as trade fair on high-quality Vietnamese products, a display on local specialties, photo exhibition on the Khmer ethnic people’s daily activities, traditional music performances, folk games and more.
The highlight of the event was a traditional boat race with the participation of around 32 teams from southern provinces in the region.
The event aims to promote cultural values of the Khmer ethnic people and strengthen unity among Vietnamese ethnic groups, said Chairman of the People’s Committee of Go Quao district.
The Ok Om Bok celebrations, also known as the Khmer Moon Thanksgiving Ceremony, fall on October 15 of the lunar calendar. It is a time for people to show their gratitude to the Moon Goddess for giving them a bumper harvest and rich aquatic sources.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the recognition of the Ok-Om-Bok festival as the 4th national intangible cultural heritage in 2014.
