An Giang leaders visit Khmer people ahead of Chol Chnam Thmay festival

AN GIANG — Leaders of the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on April 11 visited and offered greetings to Buddhist dignitaries, monks and followers at Thom Mit and Prolai Meas pagodas in Tịnh Biên township, ahead of Khmer ethnic minority people’s traditional New Year festival Chol Chnam Thmay. He attributed those achievements partly to major contributions by local people, including Khmer, dignitaries, monks and residents. An Giang is home to more than 94,500 Khmer people, accounting for 4.2 per cent of its population. The Chol Chnam Thmay festival is an occasion to celebrate the ethnic group’s New Year and pray for good health, bumper crops, wealth, and happiness. On this occasion, many delegations of provincial and local officials have visited 65 Khmer pagodas across An Giang to share the New Year joy with locals.