Thousands of Khmer people recently gathered in a festive mood at the rice fields behind the Ro Pagoda in Tinh Bien District, An Giang Province. The Sene Dolta Festival is a major event for the Khmer, a time when the ethnic minority group honor their ancestors with traditional rituals and social activities, including the oxen race.

Thousands of Khmer people recently gathered in a festive mood at the rice fields behind the Ro Pagoda in Tinh Bien District, An Giang Province.

The festival annually takes place from the 29th day of the eighth month to the first day of the nineth month in the Khmer’s lunar calendar. This year, 24 teams participated in the oxen race. The picture shows the teams getting ready for the race.

Some oxen are decorated with a checked scarf, an iconic accessory of southern Vietnamese people’s attire. The oxen entered in the contest this year are neck-to-neck.

Two pairs of oxen race towards their destination to the cheers of spectators and loud festive music.

The Khmer believe that the winning oxen will bring joy and good luck with a fruitful harvest. The winning oxen are not sold but cared for as prized assets by the family who own them.

The festival in general and the race in particular attract a flock of photographers every year. This year’s festival celebration was considered a success, thanks to the month-long preparations by the local government, monks at the Ro Pagoda and other stakeholders. It received support from many donors willing to contribute to preserving the local culture.

Novice monks plant new rice where the oxen race was held.

Oxen were not the only racers in the festival. They were pursued in right earnest by many kids having a fun time with a race of their own.

After the oxen race which took place from the morning till noon, monks of Ro Pagoda (seen in the picture) and some farmers planted rice on the field tilled by the oxen by participating in the race.

Ban Gioc Waterfall Festival to feature attractive activities

The third Ban Gioc Waterfall Festival will be held in Trung Khanh District, in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang, on October 5-6.

Hanoi to host Vietnam int’l fashion & beauty festival in December

The Vietnam International Fashion & Beauty Festival (VIFBF) will be organised at the International Centre of Exhibition in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem district from December 11-15, the organising board said at a conference on September 21.

Bac Giang audience waits for each play at National ‘Cheo’ Festival 2019

(BGO) - The National ‘Cheo” Festival 2019 has come half way with 13 special ‘cheo’ (traditional opera) plays performed to serve the ‘cheo’ lovers. Each show attracted thousands of Bac Giang spectators, showing the attractiveness of this traditional art.

Vietnam joins int’l art festival, exhibition in Indonesia

Three Vietnamese artists joined the Yogyakarta Art Festival and Borobudur International Exhibition that took place in Central Java, Indonesia from September 9-18.

2019 National ‘Cheo’ Festival in Bac Giang entertains public with 26 special plays

(BGO) - On the evening of September 14, the 2019 National ‘Cheo’ Festival took place at the province’s Conference Center. The event is hosted by the Department of Performing Arts (the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Stage Artists and the Bac Giang provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Source: VnExpress