An Giang(VNA) – The festival of culture, sports and tourism has returned to southern AnGiang province, bringing together thousands of Khmer performers and athletes incelebration of Chol Chnam Thmay.

 

Chol Chnam Thmay, thetraditional New Year festival of the Khmer community, is one of the mostimportant events of the year in their culture. It usually lasts three days andis celebrated mostly in pagodas.               

The Khmer ethnic festivalof culture, sports and tourism, the 11th edition of its kind, opened at Soai SoPagoda in Nui To commune, Tri Ton district on April 10 when Khmer people arecelebrating Chol Chnam Thmay.

It featured manyexciting cultural activities of local people, notably musical performances, a traditionalcostume fashion show, a Khmer traditional cuisine event, an exhibition ofphotos and items on daily life of Khmer people and folk games.

The event attractedthousands of musicians, performers, athletes and monks from the Khmer ethnicgroup in districts of Tri Ton, Tinh Bien, Chau Thanh, Thoai Son, and Chau Phu.

It will run throughApril 12.

The festival takesplace every two years to introduce to visitors the unique culture and upholdthe traditional values of the Khmer people living around Bay Nui mountainousarea.-VNA