MEKONG DELTA — Ethnic Khmers in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta provinces have received congratulations and support from authorities on the occasion of the upcoming Sen Đôn-ta Festival on September 19-21.

Sen Đôn-ta Festival is one of the largest annual festivals of ethnic Khmers in the southern region, along with Chôl Chnăm Thmây (New Year) and Ok Oom Bok Festival (long boat race), which give thanks to the moon for good harvests.

On Thursday (September 14), officials of the Southwest Region Steering Committee visited several Khmer pagodas in Vĩnh Long Province.

Hà Hữu Liền, head of the committee’s ethnic and religious affairs, visited and sent congratulations to monks at the pagodas and wished the Khmer community a happy and peaceful festival.

He praised the great contributions of the local Khmer community to the province’s socio-economic development, with many achievements over the past years.
Representatives of the pagodas thanked the Party, State and local authorities for their attention and support to the local Khmer community, particularly in vocational training, job creation, and education.

Venerable Sơn Ngọc Huỳnh, chairman of the province’s Association for Solidarity of Patriotic Buddhist Monks, said the association would continue to call for local Buddhist followers to comply with the policies of the Party, State and local authorities.

Earlier, the province’s People’s Committee asked members of relevant agencies to visit monks, families under special policies, and respected people in localities.

The province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will work with provincial agencies to organise cultural activities to help local Khmers welcome a happy festival.

Colourful celebration: Hà Hữu Liền, head of the Southwest Region Steering Committee’s ethnic and religious affairs, visits monks at the Hạnh Phúc Tăng Pagoda in Vĩnh Long Province’s Vũng Liêm District, to celebrate the upcoming annual Sen Đôn-ta Festival from September 19-21. — VNA/ VNS Photo Phạm Minh Tuấn

Bạc Liêu Province has asked the localities to present gifts and grants to local Khmers, and organise activities during the Sen Đôn-ta Festival.

There are more than 1.3 million ethnic Khmers living in the Mekong Delta, mostly in Trà Vinh, Sóc Trăng, Kiên Giang, Bạc Liêu, Vĩnh Long and An Giang provinces, and Cần Thơ City.

Tribute to ancestors

Sen Đôn-ta is also called Phchum Banh, meaning family gathering and virtue. It is held from the last day of the eighth lunar month to the second day of the ninth lunar month each year, which falls between (lunar) August 29 and September 1 this year.

The Khmer will express their gratitude to ancestors, parents and relatives, and pray for good luck.

During the three-day festival, many religious rituals and several cultural activities will take place at Khmer pagodas.

The annual festival aims to promote religous activities and preserve the cultural heritage of the Khmer people. — VNS