Ooc-Om-Bok Festival is a religious service that worships the Moon deity and prays for good luck, happiness, good weather and bumper crops. The festival is usually held when the dry season begins and rice is ripening on the fields.

In Soc Trang, Ooc-om-bok Festival and ngo boat race is usually held in large scale and more and more solemn. These days, the festival atmosphere pervades everywhere, from urban to rural areas, everyone prepare to welcome the festival. Ngo boat teams practice to achieve high records in the festival, people renew and decorate their homes for the ceremony.

Moon-worshipping ceremony

The Moon-worshipping ceremony takes place on the evening of 14th of tenth lunar month before the moon goes to the top. The ceremony is held in the yards of the pagoda or of residents' houses. People erect bamboo poles with a crossbar on which they decorate with flowers and leaves. Below is a table of offerings that include green rice flakes, potatoes, bananas, coconuts, grapefruits, oranges and cakes. People sit on the ground with crossed legs, clasping their hands before the altar and look up the Moon. An old master of ceremonies says his prayers, asks the moon deity to receive the offerings and bless people with the best.

After the ceremony, the elders ask the children of the house sit flatly on the ground with crossed legs before the altar. The elders then take a handful of green rice, feed each child and ask them what they wish while clapping their backs. If the children answer the question clearly and politely, all the best will come to them that year. After that, people enjoy the offerings together, and children play games or dance and sing in the moonlight. Anyone who visits the Khmer's houses on this occasion will be tasted com dep (a kind of young sticky rice).

At the pagodas of Khmer people, on the evening of 14th of the tenth lunar month, locals hold paper-lantern releasing into the sky or putting on the rivers. The custom of releasing flying lights and floating lights is believed to sweep away the darkness, impure and sadness from the village.

Ngo boat race: The day after the Moon-worshipping ceremony (the 15th day of the tenth lunar month) is the Ngo boat race. Prior to going to the race, people often hold the thanksgiving ceremony and feast participants in the competition. Race teams include healthy and experienced young man who carefully selected from the beginning. Each team has beautiful costumes, and the same-color hats.

There are tens of boats representing the pagodas or teams of many localities take part in the race. The organizers often divide the participant boat teams into two groups A and B. Group A often includes boats which had been ranked in the previous season. Group B is the remaining boats. Ngu am (five tones) music, drums, gongs and chants from the race teams that are doing a warm-up make exciting a section of river.

In Soc Trang, this year’s Ooc-Om-Bok festival, there are many activities of culture, exhibition, arts, sports such as soccer, volleyball, oc chess, but the main activity is still ngo boat race. There are over 40 teams from 10 districts and cities in the province and several provinces in the Mekong Delta region to attend Ngo boat race this year.

More information

- This year's festival takes place from November 12 to the end of November 21, 2010.

- The Soc Trang Trade Exhibition is held at the Ho Nuoc Ngot Culture Centre, Soc Trang City from November 12 – 21, 2010.

- Many Khmer traditional theatrical activities such as Du ke, Ro bam will be performed in the evening of the 14th day (on November 19, 2010).

- The Ngo boat races will take place on November 19 and 20, 2010 at the Soc Trang Racetrack on the Maspero River, Soc Trang City.

- On November 13, 2010, the night market in Soc Trang City (including 100 commercial shops and 40 food stores) is officially opened in Nguyen Van Linh St., from the Phu Loi roundabout to Truong Cong Dinh St., Soc Trang City. Marketplaces time: everyday from 5p.m. to 11p.m.

Phuong Anh (collected)