• The Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People's Council, Provincial People's Committee, and Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front visited and congratulated the Provincial Association of Patriotic Buddhist Monks and Khmer temples on the occasion of the Sen Don-ta festival.
  • Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People's Council, Provincial People's Committee, and Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front: Extending New Year greetings for Chôl-chnăm-thmây to Khmer temples, art organizations, and the press.
  • A lively New Year celebration at Khmer temples.

The Tet atmosphere in villages and hamlets in Ca Mau such as An Xuyen, Phuoc Long, Hung Hoi… is vibrant and rich in cultural identity. Khmer temples are lavishly decorated, becoming centers of cultural and religious activities.

Comrade Ho Trung Viet, Standing Committee member of the Ca Mau Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Provincial Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, presented Tet gifts to Venerable Tang Sa Vong, abbot of Buppharam Pagoda in Hung Hoi commune, on April 11th.

Venerable Thich Sa Vong, abbot of Buppharam Pagoda, said: “This year, during the traditional Lunar New Year, the pagoda mobilized resources to donate 1.5 tons of rice to the people to celebrate the New Year. In addition, the pagoda also organized the 11th traditional boat race, cultural performances, and folk games, creating a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere for the people.”

The Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Vinh Trach ward organized a gathering to celebrate the Chol Chnam Thmay New Year with festivities including cultural performances and lively folk games. (Photo taken on April 14).

During the Lunar New Year celebrations, people gather at temples to perform traditional rituals such as offering rice, chanting scriptures, bathing the Buddha statue, and building sand mounds to pray for blessings. The lively activities of splashing water and flour are also observed, expressing wishes to ward off bad luck and welcome good fortune.

Mr. Huu Trung, Head of the Khmer Art Troupe of Ca Mau province, shared: “People are eager to come to the pagoda to celebrate Tet, and the Khmer Art Troupe is also very proud to contribute performances of songs and dances rich in cultural identity. This is also an opportunity to spread the beauty of the traditional culture of our ethnic people.”

The New Year's Eve ceremony (welcoming the deities) during the Chôl Chnăm Thmây festival is the most sacred ritual, marking the transition into the new year, bidding farewell to the old deity and welcoming the new deity to the mortal world to govern and bless humanity. (Photo taken at Monivongsa Bopharam Pagoda, An Xuyên Ward, April 14th)

Sharing in the joy of celebrating Tet, Mr. Huu Thi, from Hamlet 2, An Xuyen Ward, excitedly said: "During Tet, people in the area are busy preparing flowers and fruits, respectfully bringing them to the temple to welcome the deities; at the same time, they prepare elaborate meals to offer to their ancestors. These traditional rituals reflect the principle of 'drinking water, remembering the source,' conveying hopes for a peaceful and lucky new year, favorable weather, and an increasingly prosperous and happy life."

The Chôl Chnăm Thmây New Year is not only spiritually significant but also a time for family reunions. People celebrate, dance, sing, participate in folk games, and enjoy traditional foods such as gingerbread and sticky rice cakes, creating a vibrant cultural tapestry.

The Khmer art troupe from Ca Mau province performed for the people celebrating Tet (Vietnamese New Year) at Monivongsa Bopharam pagoda.

The Chôl Chnăm Thmây Tet (Khmer New Year) is not only a sacred time for the Khmer people to remember their ancestors and connect with their roots, but also an opportunity to preserve and spread beautiful traditional cultural values ​​in modern life. During his visit and New Year greetings on April 11th, Comrade Hồ Trung Việt, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of the Ca Mau Provincial Party Committee, emphasized this profound significance and affirmed the responsibility of the entire political system in comprehensively caring for the material and spiritual lives of the Khmer people.

Chili cakes and ginger cakes are traditional folk cakes that the people preserve and share with each other during Tet (Lunar New Year).

Mr. Huu Thi, from Hamlet 2, An Xuyen Ward, offered flowers and fruit to welcome the deities at Monivongsa Bopharam Pagoda on April 14th.

According to Comrade Ho Trung Viet, in addition to the attention and support from the Party, State, and provincial policies, all levels, sectors, and localities need to continue to proactively and flexibly implement appropriate solutions to improve the material and spiritual lives of the people. This will contribute to consolidating national unity, strengthening the people's trust in the Party, and creating a solid foundation for sustainable and comprehensive development.

The rural landscape of Vinh Loc hamlet, Phuoc Long commune, where a large number of ethnic minorities live, is becoming increasingly modern and prosperous.

In the modern era, with the attention of the Party, the State, and the provincial leadership, the Chôl Chnăm Thmây Tet festival in Ca Mau still preserves its beautiful traditional values, contributing to enriching the diverse cultural landscape of the Vietnamese ethnic community. This is not only a source of pride for the Khmer people but also an opportunity for tourists from near and far to learn about and experience a unique festival rich in ethnic identity.

Loan Phuong

Source: https://baocamau.vn/tet-an-vui-cong-dong-doan-ket-a127868.html