Thousands of people join traditional Khmer festival

On the eve of November 28 (October 15^th on the lunar calendar), thousands of people gathered at Ba Om Pond, a famous site in the southern province of Tra Vinh, to participate in the 2012 Ok-Om-Bok Festival of southern Khmer ethnic minority people.

Although this is a traditional festival of Khmer people, a large number of people from the Kinh, Hoa and other groups also attended the event.

Ok-Om-Bok Festival, or Moon worshipping festival, held annually on October 15^th of the lunar calendar, is one of the three largest festivals of Khmer people in the south. After the harvest season, people worship the Moon God to thank him for a bumper crop and wish for more prosperous seasons.

Thousands of people gathered at Ba Om Pond to attend Ok-Om-Bok Festival in Tra Vinh province on November 28.

Lanterns shining around Ba Om Pond

The moonlight made the festival more impressive.

Typical symbols at the festival

Impressive dances

The beauty of Khmer culture

The image of Phoebe through the rabbit

The worshipping of the Moon God

Children ate well thanks to a bumper crop.

Adults and children sang and danced to celebrate a bumper crop.

Flower garlands and coloured lanterns were released on Ba Om Pond to carry good wishes

Buddhist followers and people paraded around the pond with offerings to worship the Moon God, wishing for new prosperous crops.