Unique moon worship ceremony

Sparkling full moon night

From the afternoon, the Cai Lon River grandstand area became bustling. On the riverbank, the altar tables were solemnly decorated with fresh flowers, lights, candles and typical offerings: flattened green rice, bananas, coconuts, potatoes, cakes... expressing the Khmer people's respect to the Moon God - the god believed by the people to bless bumper crops, peaceful and prosperous villages. When the full moon appeared in the clear sky, the sound of pentatonic music and the Chhday Dam drums began the ceremony. The elderly members of the ritual committee, dressed in solemn white robes, performed traditional rituals such as worshiping the Three Jewels, inviting monks to chant sutras for blessings, offering incense to pray for favorable weather, national peace and prosperity. In that moment, the whole space seemed to quiet down, with only the gentle moonlight and the lamps reflecting on the river.

The annual moon worshiping festival attracts thousands of locals and tourists. Photo: DANH THANH

The highlight of the ceremony is the flat rice feeding ritual - the part that children look forward to the most. Children line up neatly, under the moonlight, the elders in the ceremonial committee will feed each piece of flat rice, along with questions about wishes, ambitions and future life. Khmer people believe that when eating flat rice on the full moon night, children will be blessed by the Moon God, grow up quickly, be obedient and study well. When the ritual ends, the offering tray is set down for everyone to enjoy and watch the pentatonic music and dance performances.

After the solemn ceremony, the lantern releasing ceremony is the moment that makes the Cai Lon River become magical. Thousands of lanterns are released into the water, shimmering along the stream, blending with the brilliant moonlight. Each lantern carries wishes for happiness, peace and prosperity, illuminating the peaceful river area. Mr. Danh Phol, a resident of Go Quao commune, shared: “The moon worshiping night is an opportunity for Khmer people to remember the Moon God, to send hope for a good new crop. I feel proud because my ethnic culture is preserved and spread.”

From young sticky rice to the wish of the moon season

When the full moon of October spreads across the fields after the harvest, the sound of pounding rice resounds in the villages and hamlets. Amidst the sweet aroma of young sticky rice and warm laughter, the Khmer people together make a traditional dish that has been with them for generations - rice flakes. A gift from heaven and earth, from the harvest and from the belief in a prosperous and peaceful life.

Flattened green rice is made from young sticky rice, the kind that is just ripe, the grains are still milky. The Khmer people harvest it, roast it, then pound it continuously in a wooden mortar until the sticky rice grains are flat and thin, the husks come off. Each pounding of the pestle is a happy beat, happy because the harvest is over, because the land and sky have given delicious rice grains. Flattened green rice is sifted many times to make it smooth, mixed with shredded coconut and sugar, creating a very unique sticky, fatty, sweet flavor.

In the kitchen smoke, the skillful hands of Khmer women turn each flattened rice grain into a gift of diligence and love. “Flattened rice must be made from newly harvested sticky rice, still fragrant with milk, to be delicious. When pounding, you must be steady, gentle and decisive, so that the rice grains do not break. Making rice is hard work, but seeing children and neighbors gather to eat together is very joyful, like celebrating Tet,” said Neang Soc Ny, a resident of Phuoc Loc hamlet, O Lam commune, while pounding flattened rice.

Not only a food, flattened green rice is also a sacred offering in the Khmer people's moon worshiping night. In the moon worshiping ceremony, flattened green rice is not just a simple food, but a link between people and the earth and sky, between the present and the thousand-year tradition. Each grain of green rice carries within it the wish for a bountiful harvest, a happy and prosperous life. When sharing a handful of flattened green rice, we share joy, sharing and solidarity.

“The moon worshiping and flat rice offering ceremony is not only a beautiful folk belief but also shows gratitude to heaven and earth, preserving the cultural identity of the Khmer people. Organizing the festival during the annual Khmer Cultural, Sports and Tourism Festival of the province helps the people to be more attached, proud and join hands to build their homeland to develop more and more”, said Venerable Ly Long Cong Danh - Vice Chairman of the Provincial Association of Patriotic Monks and Monks Solidarity.

FAMOUS CITY

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/doc-dao-le-cung-trang-a466250.html