A unique cultural beauty

The full moon of the tenth lunar month every year is the time when the Khmer people begin harvesting rice. With faith, sincerity, and gratitude to the Moon deity and the gods who govern heaven and earth for blessing abundant harvests, favorable weather, and praying for health, prosperity, and peace for every household, the Khmer people entrust this belief into the first grains of sticky rice of the season.

Villagers roast the new sticky rice, pound it into fragrant flattened rice, and offer it to the Moon deity. This is an occasion for everyone to learn, exchange experiences in production, and enjoy tea, flattened rice, and fruits they have grown themselves.

This practice also carries the meaning of educating children about the spirit of labor, production, solidarity in the village, praising the traditional wet-rice farming that has brought prosperity and happiness to the community. From there, the Ok Om Bok Festival becomes a distinctive cultural beauty of the Khmer people.

Making flattened rice is a traditional craft of the Khmer people in O Lam Commune, but nowadays very few young people know it. Mr. Chau Soc Sa, living in Phuoc Loc Hamlet, is an artisan with nearly 50 years of livelihood from making flattened rice. Every day, he pounds one “giạ” (20–27 kg) of fresh sticky rice into flattened rice, supplying wholesale buyers in Can Tho City, Ho Chi Minh City, and Long Xuyen Ward.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, flattened rice production was interrupted, then resumed only modestly until now. He regretted: “In the past, many households made flattened rice, later reduced to 15 households, now it is unclear, some people know the craft but do not practice regularly, switching to other jobs to make a living.”

According to the elders in O Lam Commune, the craft of making flattened rice has gradually declined because the raw material – seasonal sticky rice – is scarce. Seasonal sticky rice has a growth period of 3–4 months, not as synchronized as modern varieties, and the crop is often damaged by rats or lost, affecting income and livelihood.

Although the craft is less vibrant than in the past, when it comes to cultural beauty, the Khmer people in O Lam are very proud and hopeful for opportunities to revive the craft.

Preserving community culture

This year, for the first time, O Lam Commune organized a flattened rice pounding contest, with Khmer people from villages gathering at the commune center to show their skills in a joyful atmosphere. Joyful because the lively scene of preparing for the Moon Worship Festival returned. Joyful because the younger generation was curious and enthusiastic, cheering loudly while watching the pounding. Joyful because the contest was not limited to one hamlet but gathered people from all hamlets, schools, and the participation of armed forces, youth… creating a warm and meaningful atmosphere of unity.

Vice Chairman of O Lam Commune People’s Committee Neang Sam Bo said that the commune has 65% Khmer population, with many unique cultural festivals that need attention for preservation. Among them, the Ok Om Bok Festival, also called the Moon Worship Festival, carries strong traditional cultural identity and is organized annually by the Khmer people.

Implementing the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021–2030, the locality pays special attention to Project 6: “Preserve and promote the fine traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development.”

“From the success of the first contest, next year we plan to expand the space and number of teams on a larger scale, adding more attractive folk games to create a joyful atmosphere, honoring the uniqueness of the Ok Om Bok Festival. The locality also plans to encourage people to grow seasonal sticky rice, rebuild the flattened rice craft team in the village (10–15 people), and create conditions to welcome tourists to visit and experience,” said Neang Sam Bo.

Flattened rice pounding is one of the intangible cultural heritages of the Southern Khmer people. In O Lam Commune, there are also the Dike stage performance art, Chhay-dam drum performance, five-tone music, and the cow racing festival, all recognized as national intangible cultural heritage.

In the commune, beautiful lakes, revolutionary historical sites, and check-in points attract many tourists. The locality plans to soon integrate traditional activities rich in Khmer identity into the tourist experience journey when visiting the heroic land of O Lam.

News by My Hanh

Translator: Thi Huynh