Ooc Om Boc Festival - Ngo Boat Race in Can Tho City: A journey to extend traditional Khmer cultural values

Ooc Om Boc Festival - Ngo Boat Racing, also known by the Khmer people as the Moon Worshiping Festival or the "Flat Rice Feeding" Festival, is a long-standing traditional festival, closely associated with the cultural life, beliefs and community activities of the Khmer people.

The festival not only shows gratitude to nature and crops, but also honors the spirit of solidarity, aspiration to rise up and unique cultural identity of the Khmer people.

Community engagement – ​​preserving traditions

Previously, the Ooc Om Boc Festival - Ngo Boat Racing was one of the biggest and most typical events of the year for the Khmer people in Soc Trang province. From July 1, 2025, Soc Trang province merged with Hau Giang province and Can Tho city to establish a new administrative unit, Can Tho city, directly under the Central Government. The festival continues to be preserved, promoted and become a unique cultural feature in the life of the Khmer community in Can Tho city today.

The elders are prestigious people among the Khmer people who perform the moon worship ritual. (Source: Ethnicity and Development Newspaper)

The Ooc Om Boc Festival - Ngo Boat Racing originated from the long-standing beliefs of the Khmer people, expressing deep gratitude to the Moon God - the god who guards the crops, brings favorable weather, drives away pests and ensures the growth of all things. On the full moon night of the 10th lunar month - the brightest and most beautiful moonlit night of the year, is a sacred moment when the Khmer people hold solemn worship ceremonies in the temple yard or at their own homes.

Each offering and decoration in the Moon Worship Ceremony has a spiritual meaning for the Khmer people. The two pillars used as a gate right at the altar symbolize the universe; the table symbolizes the Earth; the two sugarcanes symbolize fertility; the three candles placed on the gate symbolize the three seasons of the year; the 12 betel leaves hung on both sides of the gate symbolize the months of the year and the 12 zodiac animals; the seven areca nuts shaped like bees symbolize the seven days of the week; the 30 betel leaves placed on the right side of the altar symbolize the full month; the 29 betel leaves placed on the left side of the altar symbolize the short month...

Offerings are agricultural products produced by the people. (Source: Ethnicity and Development Newspaper)

In particular, flattened green rice is an indispensable offering in the Moon Worship Ceremony, made from young, fragrant rice grains, pounded elaborately, carrying the spirit of the earth, of the sky, of the sweat of farmers. Along with flattened green rice are agricultural products produced by the people such as potatoes, coconuts, bananas, betel and areca nuts, ... and some other types of cakes and candies ... All are imbued with faith, sincerity and connection with nature.

During the ceremony, the abbot sprinkles drops of pure water scented with fragrant flowers on the Buddhists, hoping to bring them blessings. After the prayer of thanks and the recitation of the blessing sutra, comes the ritual of feeding the flattened green rice.

Under the moonlight, representatives of the Khmer elders, who are prestigious people in the Khmer community, personally fed each piece of flat rice to children and teenagers, along with questions about their wishes and ambitions in life. After the flat rice feeding ceremony, everyone enjoyed the offerings and watched Khmer artisans reenact the Khmer people's activity of making flat rice.

People pound green rice to prepare for the ritual of feeding it flat rice. (Source: Cong Ly Newspaper)

The moon worship ceremony is a meeting place between religion, people and nature. It is not only a religious ritual, but also a unique cultural heritage, contributing to enriching national identity, nurturing the spirit of solidarity, pride in the homeland and responsibility to the country.

Colorful Khmer culture

After the merger, Can Tho City became the locality with the largest Khmer population in the Southwest region, with more than 400,000 people, mainly concentrated in the old Soc Trang province. In recent times, all levels and sectors of Can Tho City have implemented many programs and projects to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values ​​of the Khmer people. The organization of the Ooc Om Boc Festival - Ngo Boat Race in Can Tho City in 2025 is a testament to those efforts.

Ooc Om Boc Festival - Ngo Boat Racing in Can Tho City in 2025, taking place from November 3-5 (September 14-16 of the Lunar calendar), in Phu Loi ward and Soc Trang ward (Can Tho city), with a series of attractive cultural, sports and tourism events.

The Festival Opening Ceremony took place at 7:00 p.m. on November 3 at Bach Dang Square, Phu Loi Ward, Can Tho City with an art program themed Brilliant Moon River - Illuminating Heritage, which was invested in and elaborately staged, combining many art forms, including traditional art of the Khmer people in the South.

The main highlight of the Festival is the Ngo boat race - a symbol of strength, solidarity and aspiration of the Khmer people. The race takes place over 2 days (November 4-5) on the Maspéro River, Soc Trang ward, with the participation of 61 male and female Ngo boat teams from many localities in and outside the city. The teams will compete in two distances of 1,200m for men and 1,000m for women, the qualifying round, semi-finals and finals, promising to bring a bustling atmosphere, attracting a large number of people and tourists.

The main highlight of the Festival is the Ngo boat race - a symbol of strength, solidarity and aspiration of the Khmer people. (Source: VOV)

Along with that, the Moon Worshiping Ceremony will take place at 7:00 p.m. on November 4 at Khleang Pagoda, Soc Trang Ward; the performance of releasing water lanterns (Loiprotip) and Ca Hau boats will take place on Maspéro River, between C247 Bridge (Symbol Bridge) and 30/4 Bridge (Cao Bridge), Phu Loi Ward and Soc Trang Ward, Can Tho City.

Within the framework of the Festival, the Trade Promotion Fair of OCOP products of Can Tho City and regional specialties in 2025 will also take place from October 28 to November 5 at Urban Area 5A, Phu Loi Ward, Can Tho City with a scale of about more than 328 booths.

Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee Nguyen Van Khoi shared: "The Ooc Om Boc Festival - Ngo boat racing in Can Tho City in 2025 not only honors the traditional cultural beauty of the Khmer ethnic people in the city, but also aims to meet the thoughts, aspirations, and needs for cultural and spiritual life of ethnic people in general and the Khmer ethnic people in particular.

In addition, the Festival aims to preserve and promote the cultural values ​​and beliefs of the Khmer ethnic group. Diversify activities, create unique experiences to attract and promote tourism potential and strengths, contribute to attracting and mobilizing investment resources to develop tourism infrastructure; raise community awareness of tourism development, encourage and support people to participate in tourism development activities."

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/le-hoi-ooc-om-boc-dua-ghe-ngo-tp-can-tho-hanh-trinh-noi-dai-gia-tri-van-hoa-truyen-thong-khmer-333403.html