Impressions of Khmer traditional arts festival

Hon Dat commune's traditional art troupe performs pentatonic music. Photo: LE TRUNG HIEU

The festival attracted 333 artisans and actors from 26 Khmer traditional art teams from communes and wards in the province. The teams carefully prepared traditional art performances of the Khmer people such as singing, dancing, performing pentatonic music, Cha Pay instrument, Chhay Dam drum, string music... with the theme of praising the Party, Uncle Ho, homeland, country, praising the tradition of solidarity and cohesion between ethnic communities. At the same time, introducing the unique features of traditional costumes of the Khmer people in the South.

Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports Nguyen Diep Mai said that the Khmer people in the South in general, and An Giang in particular, have a brilliant culture, with unique traditional values, enriched and enriched by new, lively creations, most clearly expressed in the mass art movement. Organizing a festival on the occasion of the Ok Om Bok festival is a very meaningful cultural activity, contributing practically to promoting the traditional culture and art movement, creating an exciting atmosphere, increasingly better meeting the needs of daily life and enjoyment of spiritual culture for the masses.

During the 3 days of competition, from the songs, dances, the bustling sounds of traditional musical instruments, to the traditional costumes created outstanding and unique features that attracted a large number of viewers and cheers. Mr. Danh Mai Dong, resident of Giong Rieng commune, said: “The art performances and traditional costumes of the Khmer people were carefully prepared by the teams. I was impressed with the performances and traditional musical instruments. Not only the actors and artists, but also the Khmer people and other ethnic groups in the province united to preserve and promote the national cultural heritage that previous generations have passed on to today's generation.”

The first time watching the traditional art program of the Khmer people, Ms. Ly Thanh Hien - a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City was very impressed with the lively melodies of the songs and the skillful drum and instrument playing skills of the artists. "In addition to the art performance, what especially attracted me was the competition of traditional Khmer costumes. The teams introduced the unique features of traditional ethnic costumes, restored and recreated daily life, helping me know and understand more about the traditional customs of the Khmer people."

Mr. Dao Chuong - former Head of the Khmer Art Troupe Kien Giang , member of the festival's jury, commented: "The units have carefully prepared in terms of staging, costumes as well as musical ensemble. The number of young actors participating in performing traditional musical instruments compared to previous festivals is a good sign in promoting and preserving the traditional culture of the Khmer people."

Winning the award for promising actress at the festival, Ms. Tran Huynh Thi from Dinh Hoa commune shared: “I am very happy to attend this year’s festival and even more proud to receive the award for promising actress. I will continue to practice hard to perform better in order to spread the traditional culture of the Khmer people to the ethnic communities.”

Ms. Nguyen Diep Mai commented: “This year’s festival has made very clear progress, from the quality to the quantity of performances, from the content to the form, the number of elderly artists to the young actors participating is greater… All of this creates a new, colorful space for the province’s mass art movement. Through the festival, we aim to preserve and promote the rich and unique cultural values of the Khmer people in the whole province. At the same time, we discover and nurture artistic talents and increasingly better meet the needs of living and enjoying traditional culture and art of the Khmer people in the province.”

LE TRUNG HIEU

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/an-tuong-lien-hoan-nghe-thuat-truyen-thong-khmer-a466658.html