A “Ngo” boat race commenced in Xang Xa No Canal, Vi Thanh city, Hau
Giang province on November 28 as part of the 6th Culture, Sports and
Tourism Festival of the Khmer ethnic people in southern Vietnam.
The
race has drawn the participation of over 1,000 rowers from 17 teams
from Ho Chi Minh City and southwestern localities. Hau Giang and
Kien Giang provinces sent the largest numbers of teams to the event,
each with four teams.
On the first day of the competition, the
teams competed in the long distances of 1,200m for men and 1,000m for
women. On November 29, they will continue with the short distances of
800m and 600m, respectively.
As a sacred object of the Khmer
people, every “Ngo” boat is made of wood by artisans and Khmer Buddhist
monks. It is decorated with images of dragons, tigers, elephants, lions
and peacocks representing its power.
“Ngo” boat racing is
also one of the activities to celebrate the Ok Om Bok (worshipping the
moon) festival, which is held on the fifteenth day of the tenth lunar
month every year with plenty of entertainment activities, art
performances, traditional sports and games.-VNA