Secretary of the provincial Vinh Long Party Committee Tran Van Ron (L) presents a gift to monks of Hanh Phuc Tang Pagoda on April 12 (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Leaders of southern Vinh Longprovince and Can Tho city on April 12 extended congratulations to local Khmerpeople on the ethnic group’s traditional New Year festival, Chol Chnam Thmay.
Secretary of the Vinh Long provincial PartyCommittee Tran Van Ron visited the provincial Association for Solidarity ofPatriotic Buddhist Monks and Hanh Phuc Tang Pagoda in Vung Liem district,wishing Khmer monks and people a happy traditional New Year festival.
Briefing the participants about the province’ssocio-economic development in 2017 and the first quarter of this year, hestressed that those accomplishments were greatly contributed by Khmer people.
Venerable Son Ngoc Huynh, Chairman of the VinhLong Association for Solidarity of Patriotic Buddhist Monks, appreciated theprovincial authorities’ attention to the material and spiritual lives of theKhmer community, especially during the Chol Chnam Thmay festival.
He said the association will together with theprovince continue maintaining the great national unity bloc and encouragingKhmer people to keep solidarity and trust in the Party and State’s leadershipand to support each other in economic activities.
On this occasion, Vinh Long leaders alsopresented gifts to the Hanh Phuc Tang Pagoda and disadvantaged Khmer families.
Also on April 12, the Fatherland Front Committeeof Can Tho city held a meeting with local monks and Khmer people on thethreshold of Chol Chnam Thmay.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’sCommittee Le Van Tam congratulated them on the traditional festival, askingrelevant agencies to promote the great national unity bloc and push ahead withpoverty reduction plans. He also called on religious dignitaries andprestigious persons to further help build a better life in the community.
Most Venerable Dao Nhu, head of the executiveboard of Can Tho’s Khmer Theravada Buddhism Committee, thanked the municipaladministration’s attention to the Khmer traditional festival. He also highlyvalued the city’s support for local Khmer people, particularly policies onKhmer cultural value preservation.
Chol Chnam Thmay is one of the most importantfestivals of the Khmer people. It usually lasts three days and iscelebrated mostly in pagodas. The festival is a demonstration of Khmer people’saspirations to move on from the previous year’s misfortunes and look forwardto a promising new year. This year’s event will take place from April14-16.-VNA
VNA
