Khmer people in Bac Lieu celebrates New Year with COVID-19 fighting spirit
The Chol Chnam Thmay Festival is one of the most important festivals of Khmer ethnic communities across the country, including the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu.
Only a few Buddhists have been visiting the Buppharam Pagoda in Bac Lieu during the festival. (Photo: VNA)
Bac Lieu (VNA) - The Chol ChnamThmay Festival is one of the most important festivals of Khmer ethniccommunities across the country, including the Mekong Delta province of BacLieu.
This is an opportunity for the Khmer peopleto pay tribute to their ancestors, reunite with families, and attend andperform Buddhist rituals at local pagodas.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, thisyear’s New Year festival for the Khmer people, which fell on April 13-16,was celebrated in a simple and safe manner.
All Khmer pagodas in Bac Lieu province restrictedmass gatherings as well as recreational and sporting activities.
At the same time, local Buddhists wereencouraged to strictly abide by social distancing following theGovernment’s directive on preventing and fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bac Lieu is now home to 16,000 Khmerhouseholds with more than 73,500 people. They have practised religious ritualsat 29 local pagodas./.
Representatives from the People’s Committee, People's Council and Fatherland Front Committee of southwestern Tay Ninh province on April 8 presented gifts to Khmer people in Tan Chau district on the occasion of the ethnic minority group’s Chol Chnam Thmay (New Year) festival.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has sent a letter to the Khmer ethnic people, congratulating them on the traditional Chol Chnam Thmay (New Year) festival.
Representatives from the Party Committee, People’s Committee, People’s Council, and Fatherland Front Committee of the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long presented gifts to Khmer people on the occasion of the ethnic minority group’s Chol Chnam Thmay (New Year) festival on April 13.
Khmer ethnic communities are celebrating their traditional New Year Festival – Chol Chnam Thmay – at home this year from April 13-16 instead of visiting pagodas as part of the national effort to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
Khmer people in the south and the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang in particular are celebrating their traditional New Year festival Chol Chnam Thmay which falls on April 13-16 this year more quietly this year due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
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Only a few Buddhists have been visiting the Buppharam Pagoda in Bac Lieu during the festival. (Photo: VNA) 
