The unique Ok Om Bok festival of the Khmer people

The Khmer Ok Om Bok festival is held at the end of the harvest season, to express gratitude to the Moon.

Khi trăng lên cũng là lúc bà con phum sóc tập hợp đầy đủ tại sân chùa, hướng về mặt trăng tiến hành làm Lễ cúng trăng được xem là lễ chính trong Lễ Ok Om Bok của người Khmer Nam Bộ. (Ảnh: Phương Nghi)

When the moon rises, all the villagers gather in the temple yard, facing the Moon to perform the Moon worship ceremony - the main ceremony in Ok Om Bok. (Photo: Phuong Nghi)

Ok Om Bok is a traditional festival of the Khmer ethnic group in the South, held on the full moon day of the 10th lunar month every year . Ok Om Bok Festival is one of the national intangible cultural heritages recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Ok Om Bok Festival, also known as Moon Worshiping Festival (Pithi thvay pras – chanh) or “Dut com dep”, is a major Khmer folk festival held at the end of the harvest season to express gratitude to the Moon, the god of Khmer beliefs who helps protect crops, regulate the weather, and bring good fruit and prosperity to the people in the villages and hamlets. This is a "moon worship" and "water god farewell" ceremony that no one can forget the specialty dish of flattened green rice as well as the "festival" part with useful and fun activities such as Ngo boat racing, parachute performance, snail chess competition, releasing wind lanterns, releasing water lanterns...

Nghi lễ cúng trăng, thường làm một chiếc cổng bằng thân lá dừa (hoặc cây mía) có trang trí hoa lá…lễ vật gồm cốm dẹp, khoai lang, trái cây, bánh dẹp, bánh in, bánh pía… (Ảnh: Phương Nghi)

The Moon worship ceremony usually involves making a gate from coconut leaves (or sugarcane) decorated with flowers and leaves... offerings include flat rice, sweet potatoes, fruits, flat cakes, in cakes, pia cakes... (Photo: Phuong Nghi)

The Moon worship ceremony is the main ritual in the Ok Om Bok festival, held on the full moon night of the tenth lunar month (this year, November 27, 2023) in the temple grounds, in each house or organized in a spacious place.

According to Khmer cultural researcher, Meritorious Artisan Duong Chau O, to prepare for the Moon worship ceremony, Khmer people often make a bamboo gate decorated with flowers and leaves; on the gate, there is a betel string consisting of 12 rolled betel leaves symbolizing the 12 months of the year and a areca string consisting of 7 fruits split like two bee wings, symbolizing the 7 days of the week. Nowadays, the worship ceremony is simpler, just need to bring a table and place the offerings on it.

“In addition to the flattened green rice, which is a mandatory offering, there are also fresh coconuts, bananas, sweet potatoes, rice cakes and fruits… around which people place candles and incense. In the evening, when preparations are complete, everyone spreads out mats, sits with their hands clasped, and faces the moon, waiting for the ceremony,” said Mr. Chau O.

Acha làm chủ lễ thực hiện nghi thức cúng trăng mừng Lễ Ok Om Bok. (Ảnh: Phương Nghi)

Acha presides over the moon worship ceremony to celebrate Ok Om Bok. (Photo: Phuong Nghi)

Right when the moon rises high and shines brightly, incense and tea are lit and poured. At the Acha temple, the master of ceremonies (the oldest person in the house) prays to express the gratitude of the people to the moon, asking the moon to accept the offerings from the people; to grant everyone good health, favorable weather, good harvests in the coming year, and a prosperous and happy life.

After the offering, the master of ceremonies gathers the children to sit cross-legged, clasps his hands and looks towards the moon, takes out the flattened rice and other offerings, puts a little of each into the children's mouths and asks them what they wish for. The children will tell him their wishes and he advises them to be good, study well to help others...

After the moon worshiping ceremony, everyone shakes hands and wishes each other the best. All night long, young men of the village dance and play Lamvong, Sadam... ending the Ok Om Bok festival.

The Moon worshiping ceremony is a beautiful traditional cultural feature of the Khmer people in the South. The festival has the meaning of celebrating new rice on bright moon days, an occasion to remember the merit of the Moon, the god who regulates the seasons and helps people have a bountiful harvest.

During the days of the Ok Om Bok festival and the traditional Ngo boat race, in the villages of Soc Trang today, it is easy to feel the changes and development of the Khmer people and gather with the people to dance, sing A day, dance Lam Thon, Lam Vong, Lam Leo... along with the sound of the Sa Dam drum and the five-tone music that makes the whole festival bustling. This is an opportunity for the Khmer people to have fun after hard working days.

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