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TOURISM IN THE MEKONG DELTA
One the first day, each family
tidies up the house and cleans and
decorates it magnificently. After-
wards, four rice bowls are prepared
on the table, a fire is lit and all the
family celebrates together. Each per-
son prays and pours tea to call miss-
ing close relatives to come to eat
together. The first ceremony in the
day is called the reception ceremony.
In the afternoon, everyone washes to
prepare and invite the ancestors to go
with them to the pagoda to take part
in more ceremonies. By night in the
pagoda, people still organise the fes-
tival with the participation of young
couples who come to sing du-ke and
to dance lam thol.
The second day, people invite
their ancestors’ souls back to the
house to eat and have fun before
returning to the pagoda at the end of
the festival.
On the last day, each family pre-
pares meals and fruits like the first day
to worship the ancestors and to say
goodbye to them. Thus, this ceremony
is called the farewell ceremony. Once
the rites are finished, the Dolta festival
is over.
Buddhist festivals
Buddhism plays a very important
role in the daily lives of the Khmer
people and besides the three main
festivals, Khmer people have many
others.
Visaka Bochia Festival is one of
the most important Buddhism cere-
monies. It celebrates the birth, en-
lightenment and para nirvana of the
Buddha. It is celebrated in local pa-
godas during April’s fullmoon. Peo-
ple bring offerings to celebrate in the
pagodas, but there are no traditional
games or cultural activities.
Chol Wasa and Chenh Wasa fes-
tivals are celebrated for two days
around the full moons of June and
September. All pilgrims bring offer-
ings to worship in the pagoda and of-
fer to the monks and guests. At night,
the monks and other people recite
prayers and perform traditional songs
and dances.
Pulling together - a tug of war shows village rivalry
Wedding ceremony of Khmer people
The lively cow racing event gets the crowds cheering
Huge teams of rowers power their boats in a tighly fought contest