Soc Trang meets typical Khmer monks and cadres on Sene Dolta Festival

The Party Committee and People’s Committee of the southern province of Soc Trang held a meeting and presented gifts to outstanding Khmer monks and cadres on the occasion of Sene Dolta, one of the largest annual Khmer festivals.

Soc Trang authorities present gifts to outstanding Khmer monks and cadres on the occasion of Sene Dolta.
Soc Trang authorities present gifts to outstanding Khmer monks and cadres on the occasion of Sene Dolta.

In his speech, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Van Lau praised the Khmer people, dignitaries, monks, officers and soldiers in the province for their efforts in mobilising fellow Buddhists to observe the Party's guideline and the State's laws and policies.

Despite the complicated situation of the COVID-19 epidemic, all levels of Party committees, authorities and people in the province, including the Khmer, people have exerted great efforts and showed a strong sense of determination to join hands and overcome their difficulties together; with a focus on successfully realisingthe dual goal of both fighting against the pandemic while boosting socio-economic development, as well as protecting people’s health towards socio-economic recovery and development in the new normal.

At the meeting

The Sene Dolta Festival 2021 will take place from October 4-7. Due to the epidemic situation, celebration activities are being only organised within families, according to the Venerable Ly Duc, deputy head of the association for the solidarity of patriotic monks in SocTrang.

Buddhists are recommended to strictly implement the Health Ministry’s 5K message: Khau trang (facemask) – Khu khuan (disinfection) – Khoang cach (distance) – Khong tu tap (no gathering) – Khai bao y te (health declaration) when visiting temples during the festival, he added.

The Sene Dolta Festival is one of the largest annual Khmer festivals, along with Chol Chnam Thmay (New Year) and Ooc Oom Bok, a festival to thank the Moon for good harvests.

The festival is held from the 30th day of the eighth lunar month to the second day of the ninth lunar month each year, and brings Khmer people together to pay tribute to their ancestors, celebrating with traditional songs and dance after a hard working year.