(VOVworld) - The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has recognized the Ok-Om-Bok festival of the Khmer ethnic group as a national intangible cultural heritage, the 4^th recognized heritage in Tra Vinh province.

The Ok-Om-Bok festival worships the Moon. (Photo: VNA)

Ok-Om-Bok is a moon worshipping ritual held at the full moon in the 10^th lunar month when the rice harvest ends. It is one of the year’s three main festivals. The Khmer believe that the moon is a God who controls the weather and crops throughout the year. Each village hosts the moon worshipping ritual in the courtyard of its pagoda or a private house. In the Ok-Om-Bok festival, local residents make offerings to show their gratitude to the God for giving them good weather and fruitful harvests and ask for the same in the coming year.