Khmer traditional costume performance (Source www.sggp.org.vn)Bac Lieu (VNA) - The seventh Culture, Sports andTourism Festival of the Khmer in 12 southern provinces kicked off in the MekongDelta province of Bac Lieu on November 17.
Thetraditional festival themed "Preserve and Promote the Khmer Ethnic Cultureto Meet Demand for Sustainable Development of the Country" will close onNovember 19.
Participantsinclude 2,000 artists, actors, musicians, spectators and Khmer groups from theMekong Delta city of Can Tho and the southerneconomic hub of Ho Chi Minh Cityas well as the provinces of Tay Ninh, Binh Phuoc, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, AnGiang, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau.
Speakingat the opening ceremony, Chairman of the Bac Lieu People’s Committee Duong Thanh Trung saidthe festival creates a good opportunity for the province to promote solidarity,arts and cultural exchanges that help preserve ethnic Khmer’s traditionalculture.
Thefestival aims to have "all people unite to build a cultural life" andnew countryside, he said.
DeputyPrime Minister Truong Hoa Binh said the Khmer community had made greatcontributions to the nation’s independence and freedom in the past andsustainable development in recent years.
Hepraised the provincial authorities for supporting the Khmer people’s spirit andculture.
“Besidespaying attention to reviving and preserving traditional culture,localities should promote new cultural values, especially in the border areas,”he noted.
Thethree-day festival features traditional ethnic Khmer activities, including folkgames, art and musical performances, costume shows, and cuisine and sportscompetitions.
Theprovince has built and upgraded nine Ghe Ngo (traditional Khmer boats) and 17traditional Khmer pentatonic musical instruments.
Everythree years, the event features sports, culture and tourism traditions ofthe Khmer community and offers visitors an opportunity to take part in variousactivities.
In2014, the sixth Khmer festival was hosted by Hau Giang province.-VNA
