Vinh Long officials visit Khmer community to mark new year festival

Secretary of Vinh Long provincial Party Committee Tran Van Ron (L) presents gifts to Most Venerable Son Ngoc Huynh (Photo: VNA)

Vinh Long (VNA) - Representatives from the Party Committee, People’s Committee, People’s Council, and Fatherland Front Committee of the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long presented gifts to Khmer people on the occasion of the ethnic minority group’s Chol Chnam Thmay (New Year) festival on April 13.

While visiting the Patriotic United Buddhist Association in the province and the Hanh Phuc Tang Pagoda in Vung Liem district, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Tran Van Ron spoke highly of the contributions by Khmer monks and the community to Vinh Long’s development in recent times, and wished them a peaceful and joyful festival.

This year’s Chol Chnam Thmay festival takes place at a time when Vietnam and the world are grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. He urged the Khmer people to follow the State’s preventive measures against the pandemic while enjoying the traditional festival.

Most Venerable Son Ngoc Huynh, head of the Patriot United Buddhist Association in Vinh Long, said it has worked with 13 Khmer pagodas in the locality to adopt preventive measures in line with guidance from authorities and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Executive Council.

Chol Chnam Thmay is one of the most important festivals of the Khmer people. It usually lasts three days and is primarily celebrated in pagodas. The festival demonstrates the Khmer people’s aspirations to move on from the old year and look forward to a promising new year.

The festival runs from April 14 to 16 this year./.