Ethnic Khmers in the Mekong Delta provinces have received congratulations and support from authorities on the occasion of the upcoming Sen Donta Festival on September 19-21.

Offering food to monks at Khmer pagodas is an important ritual during the Khmer Sen Donta Festival. 

Sen Donta Festival is one of the largest annual festivals of ethnic Khmers in the southern region, along with Chol Chnam Thmây (New Year) and Ok Oom Bok Festival (long boat race), which give thanks to the moon for good harvests.

On Thursday (September 14), officials of the Southwest Region Steering Committee visited several Khmer pagodas in Vinh Long Province.

Ha Huu Lien, head of the committee’s ethnic and religious affairs, visited and sent congratulations to monks at the pagodas and wished the Khmer community a happy and peaceful festival.

He praised the great contributions of the local Khmer community to the province’s socio-economic development, with many achievements over the past years.

Representatives of the pagodas thanked the Party, State and local authorities for their attention and support to the local Khmer community, particularly in vocational training, job creation, and education.

The Most Venerable Son Ngoc Huynh, chairman of the province’s Association for Solidarity of Patriotic Buddhist Monks, said the association would continue to call for local Buddhist followers to comply with the policies of the Party, State and local authorities.

Earlier, the province’s People’s Committee asked members of relevant agencies to visit monks, families under special policies, and respected people in localities.

The province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will work with provincial agencies to organise cultural activities to help local Khmers welcome a happy festival.

Bac Lieu Province has asked the localities to present gifts and grants to local Khmers, and organise activities during the Sen Donta Festival.

There are more than 1.3 million ethnic Khmers living in the Mekong Delta, mostly in Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu, Vinh Long and An Giang provinces, and Can Tho City.

Tribute to ancestors

Ha Huu Lien, head of the Southwest Region Steering Committee’s ethnic and religious affairs, visits monks at the Hanh Phuc Tang Pagoda in Vinh Long Province’s Vung Liem District, to celebrate the upcoming annual Sen Ha Huu LienFestival from September 19-21. 

Sen Donta is also called Phchum Banh, meaning family gathering and virtue. It is held from the last day of the eighth lunar month to the second day of the ninth lunar month each year, which falls between (lunar) August 29 and September 1 this year.

The Khmer will express their gratitude to ancestors, parents and relatives, and pray for good luck.

During the three-day festival, many religious rituals and several cultural activities will take place at Khmer pagodas.

The annual festival aims to promote religous activities and preserve the cultural heritage of the Khmer people. 

VNS