Visit O Lam to see the pounding of flat rice in the Moon worship ceremony

Proud of the traditional flat rice making profession, on the occasion of Ok Om Bok festival this year, the local government of O Lam commune (An Giang province) recreated the bustling flat rice pounding atmosphere in the community, both introducing the unique features of the profession and hoping to open a cultural playground that can be maintained regularly to welcome more tourists to visit the heroic commune.

Flattened green rice is prepared by Khmer people during the Ok Om Bok festival to thank the Moon God.

Beauty of community culture

Every year, on the full moon day of the 10th lunar month, the Khmer people begin to harvest rice. With faith, sincerity and gratitude to the Moon God and the gods who govern heaven and earth for blessing a bountiful harvest, favorable weather, and praying for health, prosperity and peace for every family, the Khmer people entrust this belief to the first grains of sticky rice of the season.

People bring newly roasted sticky rice, pound it into fragrant sticky rice grains to offer to the Moon God. This is an opportunity for everyone to learn together, exchange experiences in production, enjoy a cup of tea, flattened rice and vegetables grown by themselves.

This also has the meaning of educating children about the spirit of labor production, solidarity in the village, praising the traditional rice farming profession that has brought prosperity and happiness to the community. Since then, the Ok Om Bok festival has become a unique cultural beauty of the Khmer people.

The first flat rice pounding contest was held in O Lam commune.

Making flattened green rice is a traditional occupation of the Khmer people in O Lam commune, however, very few people in today's younger generation know about it. Mr. Chau Soc Sa, residing in Phuoc Loc hamlet, is an artisan who has made a living by making flattened green rice for nearly 50 years. Every day, he pounds 1 bushel (20kg - 27kg) of fresh sticky rice to make green rice, delivering it to wholesalers in Can Tho city, Ho Chi Minh city, and Long Xuyen ward.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the production of green rice flakes was interrupted, and production has been limited until now. He regrets: "In the past, many households made flat green rice flakes, then reduced to 15 households, now it is not clear, there are people who know the profession but do not do it regularly, but switch to other jobs to take care of life."

The process of roasting sticky rice, sieving the sticky rice grains after pounding to make flat rice flakes.

According to the elders in O Lam commune, the profession of making green rice flakes is gradually fading away because the raw material for making green rice flakes, the glutinous rice of the season, is scarce. The growing period of the seasonal rice flakes is 3-4 months, not as uniform as the current pure agricultural rice flakes, the crop is damaged by rats, causing crop failure, affecting the income and life of the people.

Although the green rice flake making profession is somewhat deserted compared to the past, when mentioning the cultural beauty of the community, the Khmer people in O Lam are very proud and hope to have the opportunity to develop the profession again.

After being pounded flat, the sticky rice is mixed with sugar, water, and shredded coconut to soften it, absorb the sweet and fatty flavor, and have a more attractive aroma.

Preserving community culture

This year, for the first time, O Lam commune organized a flat rice pounding competition. Khmer people from the villages and hamlets gathered in the commune center to show off their skills in joyful excitement. Happy to see the bustling scene of preparations for the moon worship ceremony. Happy because the young generation was eager and curious, cheering enthusiastically when watching the rice pounding. Happy because the competition was not only limited to one hamlet, but also gathered all hamlets, schools and the participation of armed forces, youth... creating a warm and meaningful atmosphere.

An Tuc school cluster's competition team competed in pounding flat rice in the enthusiastic cheering atmosphere of the students.

Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of O Lam Neang Commune Sam Bo said that the whole commune has 65% Khmer people living there, there are many unique cultural festivals that need to be preserved and maintained. Among them, the Ok Om Bok festival, also known as the Moon Worshiping festival, has a strong traditional cultural identity and is held annually by the people.

Implementing the National Target Program on Socio -Economic Development for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2030 period, the locality pays special attention to Project 6: "Preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development".

Finished flattened green rice products served to visitors to enjoy at the competition.

“From the success of the first competition, next year we plan to expand the space and the number of teams, add more attractive folk games to create a joyful atmosphere, honoring the unique features of the Ok Om Bok festival. The locality has also oriented the coming time to encourage people to grow seasonal sticky rice, strengthen the green rice making teams in the craft village (10-15 people), and create conditions to welcome visitors to visit and experience”, said Ms. Neang Sam Bo.

Chhay-dam drum performance art of Khmer people in O Lam commune.

Pounding flattened rice is one of the intangible cultural heritages of the Khmer people in the South. In O Lam commune, there are also the art of Di Ke stage performance, Chhay-dam drum performance, pentatonic music, and bull racing festival recognized as National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

In the commune, beautiful lakes, revolutionary historical sites, and sightseeing spots attract a large number of tourists. The locality plans to soon make traditional activities imbued with the Khmer identity a part of the journey that tourists experience when coming to the heroic land of O Lam.

Article and photos: HOAI ANH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/ve-o-lam-xem-gia-com-dep-trong-le-cung-trang-a465909.html