During the festival, people pray for peace, as well as preserve their worthy customs and religious mental life. Dolta festival is one of the biggest annual Khmer festivals to thank the Moon for good harvests.

Khmer people perform considerate duties such as offering steamed rice in pagodas and worshiping their ancestors at home. Two weeks before the main festival, the atmosphere in most of the areas become lively whilst everyone is getting a lot busier making traditional cakes, cleaning and decorating altars, visiting their grandparents, etc.

Luông Ba Sắc, a Khmer pagoda built 500 years ago, is now a religious home for over 1000 Buddhist monks. Up to now, Luông Ba Sắc has been still remaining such unique and traditional customs and activities. Many locals and even non-natives have become so familiar with the place as a praying venue in many occasions and events. Especially during Dolta festival, visitors come here very early in the morning, usually at around 3:00 AM.

Pagodas are followed by households as the next venues for the next activities. Depending on the economic status or budget of each family, the ceremony will be held in modesty or significance that some monks are invited to say the blessings and join the meals with the families.

To discover more about Khmer’s festivals, please click here

The post Khmer Dolta Festival in Vietnam | Travel Fest appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

After picking up their ancestors’ manes and taking them home from pagodas, Khmer people plait rafts with banana trunks displayed with loads of offerings of all kinds and let them float along some canals or rivers close by. If you ever have a chance to visit this community during this occasion, you are definitely welcomed with open arms. According to Khmer people, guests are considered as passengers appointed by their ancestors to visit their families.

Apart from the ritual mentioned above, ox racing is another activity that should be taken into account. A flat and wide piece of land covered with a low water level will be chosen, with 200 meters in length and 100 meters in width. Afterwards, they turn over the soil for a few times, so it can get muddy and encompass the zone with hedges. The end of the race is designed with a space behind keeping a safe distance for these racers. Two flags, one in blue and one in red, are plugged 5 meters away from each other at the starting and ending line. Your pair of ox is supposed to start and finish at the flag with the same color.

During the race, if any pair happens to fall out of the line, it is going to be disqualified. In case the pair of ox behind fortunately steps over the plough of the ox in front, it will be claimed as the winner. However, the commanders ought to stand firmly in order not to fall off, which is declared as losers.

At the crack of dawn, plenty of people all gather at the racecourse. Even for those who live many miles away, they still bring kitchen accessories along just for cooking and watching at the same time.

The post Oxen Racing Festival in Vietnam | Travel Fest appeared first on Maze Vietnam.