From the morning at Po Thi Wone Wong Sa Pagoda (Xa Phien Commune), the sound of pentatonic music and chanting echoed throughout the space. In traditional costumes, Khmer people gathered at the pagoda to offer rice and pray for peace to their ancestors, a sacred ritual in the Sene Dolta ceremony. The festival atmosphere was not only warm and bustling but also demonstrated the strong bond within the community.

Khmer people join in chanting prayers for the dead.

I talked to Mr. Danh Thu, a resident of Hamlet 4, Xa Phien Commune, when he had just helped the pagoda clean up the ceremony grounds. He shared that this year, people celebrated the ceremony in a very excited mood, the recent Summer-Autumn rice crop sold well, houses were repaired, and livestock had more breeds. "What I am most happy about is that the commune officials now complete procedures very quickly and enthusiastically, people are no longer shy when coming to the new headquarters," he said with a smile.

In Vinh Tuong commune, where more than 100 Khmer households live, the changes are evident in each house and each newly completed concrete road. Mr. Lam Truong Son, a resident in the hamlet, said that people are now proactive in production, self-reliant in escaping poverty, while still strictly preserving the good traditional customs of the nation.

The ritual of offering food to monks during the Sene Dolta ceremony.

According to Mr. Lam Hoang Mau, Director of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions of Can Tho City, this year, the city has created conditions for all Khmer officials, students and workers to have a 3-day holiday to celebrate Tet with their families. Many cultural activities, visits and gift giving have been organized at religious and Khmer community sites in the area.

According to Mr. Lam Hoang Mau, the results of the National Target Program on Socio -Economic Development for Ethnic Minority Areas for the 2021-2030 period are showing clear results in Can Tho. Specifically, more than 3,300 households have been supported to build new or repair houses; more than 200 public infrastructure projects have been implemented; thousands of households have access to clean water. More than 120,000 Khmer people in the city are directly benefiting from this program.

In particular, together with the local authorities, the delegation of the Can Tho City Military Command organized activities to visit and congratulate the festival at typical Khmer pagodas such as Khemmara Rang-say pagoda (Tan Hoa commune), Som Rong pagoda ( Soc Trang ward) and Tum Nup pagoda (An Ninh commune).

At the destinations, officers and soldiers of the City Military Command warmly visited and sent best wishes to monks, religious dignitaries and Buddhist followers, and presented many meaningful gifts. These practical activities deeply demonstrated the close bond between the army and the people, joining hands to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values ​​of the Khmer people.

The working delegation of Can Tho City Border Guard visited and presented gifts to pagodas in the coastal border city.

Along with that, the Border Guard force of Can Tho City organized many meaningful activities across the communes and wards in the coastal border areas such as Tran Phu, Thanh Hoa, Vinh Hai, and Thanh Thang.

Hundreds of gifts including banh tet, rice, necessities and cash were handed to Khmer people in difficult circumstances. In particular, the "Zero Dong Market" held right at Vinh Hai Border Guard Station attracted a large number of people to receive gifts and interact with officers and soldiers. This is a practical initiative that helps people not only receive material support but also have the opportunity to interact and strengthen military-civilian relations.

Passing through Khmer pagodas during the festival season, I encountered the sound of calm chanting and optimistic eyes. The Khmer people in Can Tho are gradually rising up with the spirit of self-reliance and the support of practical and timely policies.

Amidst the changes, people still preserve the core of traditional culture, a precious value that contributes to enriching the Vietnamese cultural identity. Today's transformation is a clear affirmation that: When the policy is right and the people are in favor, then no matter the remote areas, no matter the ethnic minorities, all can develop steadily, accompanying the overall development of the country.

Article and photos: THANH HA

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/dong-bao-khmer-can-tho-don-le-sene-dolta-trong-niem-vui-doan-ket-no-am-847599