Ca Mau completes Ngo boat at Cao Dan Pagoda National Historical Site - Lang Son Newspaper: Latest, accurate, reputable news

After more than 3 months of construction, the newly built Ngo boat at Cao Dan pagoda has just been completed and launched, bringing joy to many Khmer people in Ca Mau before the Ok Om Bok Festival.

Ngo boat launching ceremony at the national historical site of Cao Dan pagoda (Tan Loc commune, Thoi Binh district, Ca Mau province).

On the morning of November 8, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ca Mau province, Tran Hieu Hung, said that the newly built Ngo boat had just had a launching ceremony at Cao Dan Pagoda - national historical site in Tan Loc commune (Thoi Binh district, Ca Mau province).

The boat The newly launched boat was built with state investment at a cost of 350 million VND, completed after more than 3 months of construction. The Ngo boat is 31m long and 1.4m wide, equivalent to 60 technical swimmers, 1 technical trumpeter leading the rhythm and 1 commander sitting at the bow.

Many Khmer people from the villages and hamlets of Tan Loc commune and neighboring areas of Thoi Binh district came to watch and witness the boat launching ceremony. This is also a solemn ritual, and a good time must be chosen to launch the boat.

According to Mr. Lam Thu, Captain of the Ngo Boat Team of Cao Dan Pagoda, before launching, the Big Drum Band of the pagoda must invite music and play music to worship the Ngo boat. The offerings include: Pig's head; pair of chickens, ducks; Sla-thor don (made from coconut) or Sla-thor chek (banana tree trunk) with incense, candles, and decorative flowers...

Before the ceremony, the swimmers gathered in the main hall to listen to the monks and achar chant blessings and prayers, and sprinkled with good water to increase strength and solidarity.

In the Khmer villages and hamlets in Ca Mau, the Ngo boat is a unique cultural product, considered a symbol of prosperity and abundance in the region. Therefore, the repair, construction and launching of the Ngo boat is carried out very systematically.

This time, the Ngo boat was invested in and newly built at the national historical site of Cao Dan pagoda, also to serve the competition at Ok Om Bok Festival The 6th Mekong Delta Moon Festival in 2024 is scheduled to take place from November 9 to 15 in Soc Trang city (Soc Trang province).

Cao Dan is one of many majestic Khmer Theravada pagodas in Ca Mau province that has been recognized as a national historical site by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. This pagoda has a long revolutionary tradition, and was a place to shelter cadres during the two resistance wars.

Many monks at Cao Dan Pagoda grew up during the revolution, many of whom became key Party officials, typically the late Venerable Huu Nhem (1929-1966), a monk and revolutionary soldier - who used to be the abbot of Cao Dan Pagoda (passed away during the resistance war against the US), and held the position of Vice Chairman of the National Liberation Front of the Southwest region.

Promoting the good traditions of the past, over the past time, the Board of Directors of the pagoda, monks and Buddhists in the area have always united and joined hands with the local government to preserve, restore and promote the value of the relic so that the pagoda is not only a symbol of national solidarity but also a place for religious, cultural and community activities, thereby strengthening the strong belief in the hearts of ethnic minorities with the Party and State...

Source: https://baolangson.vn/ca-mau-hoan-thanh-chiec-ghe-ngo-tai-di-di-tich-lich-su-quoc-gia-chua-cao-dan-5027738.html