The shimmering beauty of Ca Hau boats at the Ooc Om Boc festival

During the Ooc Om Boc Festival of the Khmer people, besides the strong Ngo boats on the green race track, there are also Ca Hau boats with shimmering beauty on the Maspero River.

According to Khmer elders, the origin of Ca Hau boats is said to date back to ancient wartime when they were used to transport kings and also to command and supply Ngo boats (boats that carried soldiers to fight)...

Ghe Ca Hau is understood as a boat for attendants, a type of dugout canoe used by high-ranking monks to chant sutras; used for Venerables, Venerables, and prestigious people to sit and direct the boat teams competing in Ngo boat races. In addition, Ghe Ca Hau is also used to transport food, drinking water, music, and provide logistical support for Ngo boat teams in races.

Ca Hau boat of Khmer people.

According to Venerable Lam Hiep, Abbot of Bo Tum Reng Say Tum Nup Pagoda (Tum Nup Pagoda, An Ninh Commune, Can Tho City), Ca Hau boat (also known as Ke-hau) is a traditional boat with strong cultural identity of the Khmer people in the South, playing an important role in both daily life and spiritual culture.

Venerable Lam Hiep said that for the Khmer people, the Ngo boat is not only a cultural item made and preserved in the pagoda of each village, hamlet... it is considered a mascot, representing the village, hamlet, symbol of prosperity and abundance... Therefore, the Ca Hau boat is no less important, because in the past it always accompanied the Ngo boat during the Ngo boat racing festival season.

The shimmering beauty of Ca Hau boats on Maspero River ( Soc Trang and Phu Loi wards, Can Tho city).

Ca Hau boats have different sizes, depending on the size of the tree trunk they are made of. Boats are usually 15 - 20m long, 1.5 - 2m wide, made from a large tree trunk, in the form of a "dugout log".

The Ngo boat's stern and curved bow are assembled and decorated with elaborate carvings or painted patterns, with the main pattern being "fire flowers and smoke".

Ngo boat has many differences from Ca Hau boat.

The Ca Hau boat has four main parts: the body, the roof, the bow and the stern. The body of the boat is made from large wooden trees; the roof has support pillars and wooden panels, with front doors, back doors and windows on both sides. The bow of the Ca Hau boat is similar to the bow of the Ngo boat with a curved, high shape, but is more spacious and sturdy. The stern is equipped with a rudder for control and support for the rowers.

Like Ngo boats, Ca Hau boats are decorated with many motifs and patterns typical of the Khmer people. The craftsmen chosen to do this work are often talented, experienced, and knowledgeable about traditional culture. Ca Hau boats represent the aesthetic thinking of each pagoda. Therefore, Ca Hau boats are often decorated with symbolic images of the pagoda.

The time to paint and decorate a Ca Hau boat usually lasts from 20 days to 1 month. Every detail is meticulously cared for by the craftsman. The connection between the light and dark strokes, the harmonious combination of colors creates a brilliant beauty for each boat. Ca Hau boat is not only a means of transport but also a work of art, demonstrating the talent and passion of the craftsmen...

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Chuyen-dong-van-hoa/ve-dep-lung-linh-cua-ghe-ca-hau-tai-le-hoi-ooc-om-boc-i786822/