On the evening of November 3, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City coordinated with units to organize the opening of the water lantern release performance (Loi Protip) and Ca Hau boat in the framework of the Ooc Om Boc - Ngo boat racing festival in 2025.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City said that according to Khmer people's beliefs, the water lantern release ceremony in the Ooc Om Boc Festival is imbued with the beliefs of agricultural residents and religious colors, and the Khmer people want to express their gratitude for nature that has blessed people to do business and live in peace and bring many good things.
The water lantern performance aims to honor traditional cultural values, contributing to raising awareness in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of the Khmer people, meeting the needs of spiritual and cultural enjoyment for the people in the period of integration and development. Thereby, it also demonstrates the concern of the Party and State in implementing ethnic policies, promoting the potential strengths of ethnic minorities in the city in conjunction with the policy of economic, cultural and social development.
This year, the exhibition activities have 20 participating boats, including 16 water lantern boats and 4 Ca Hau boats, creating a brilliant festival space. This activity contributes to promoting the cultural image and people of Can Tho to domestic and foreign tourists, while demonstrating the concern of the Party and State in preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the Khmer ethnic group.
According to the elders, Ca Hau boats are understood as barges, a unique boat used for high priests to go to sea, used for Venerable Suong, Dai Duong 26, a prestigious person to sit and direct the boat teams to compete in Ngo boat races. ghe Ca Hau is also used to transport food, drinking water, orchids... to serve and support Ngo's boat team in races. ghe Ca Hau was once also considered a rice boat for athletes and a boat commander for boat teams.
