Mascots, sacred symbols on Ngo junk of the Khmer
VOV.VN - For the Khmer people in the Mekong Delta, the Ngo junk (longboat) is a cultural and religious symbol. The Ngo junks are always decorated with striking motifs and colors, each featuring an artistic pair of eyes and a distinctive mascot at the bow.
The Ngo junks are community-owned and hold a special place in pagodas, the most sacred sites for the Khmer people. The animal mascots on the bows, which symbolize the strength of racing teams, are highly revered and considered“sacred objects” of the Khmer.
The Khmer believe that all things have souls, and the Ngo junks are no exception. That is why every boat-launching ceremony is carried out with solemn rituals at the pagoda.
Each Ngo junk chooses a mascot, such as the mythical bird (Sath Krud), the snake (Naga), a mermaid (Neang Machha), a dragon, elephant, tiger, or horse. These mascots are not only for decoration but also carry spiritual meanings and beliefs, as they are related to the land and the pagodas.
People’s Artist Chau On said: “In Khmer culture, when choosing a mascot for the Ngo junk, people refer to the name of the village or the pagoda in Khmer language. The final consonant of the name determines the mascot, as each consonant is associated with an animal.”
The mascots are crafted by Khmer artisans with mysterious details capturing the imagination of viewers. Son Sa The, a Ngo junk decorator in Soc Trang city, said that each boat has distinctive motifs and a mascot, showing the skills of the artisans and the richness of Khmer culture.
“I often paint Buddha statues and interior decorations. During the Ok Om Bok Festival, I paint Ngo junks. Breathing life into the Ngo junks brings me joy. If the boat has a dragon mascot, I paint it with dragon-like scales. It looks very striking on the water,” The said.
The mascot makes the boat easily recognizable during the race. Kim Thanh Quan, Head of the Management Board of Prek Ta Cuol Pagoda in Can Tho city, said that the Khmer people place great faith in the sacred mascot.
“The mascot for our pagoda’s Ngo junk is the phoenix. In Khmer belief, this is a bird of super power,” Quan said.
Alongside strategy and team selection, the mascot is a spiritual source of strength and inspiration for the athletes to race and win to bring victory to the village and the pagoda.
Solemn Kathina Robe Offering ritual of the Khmer recreated in Hanoi
VOV.VN - The Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism on the outskirts of Hanoi has recently hosted a solemn re-enactment of the Kathina Robe Offering ritual, a sacred Theravada Buddhist ceremony observed by the Khmer ethnic community, with origins tracing back to the time of the Buddha.
