A Neak Ta statue (photo: Thach Tra Vinh/VOV in the Mekong Delta)
About a week prior to the Dom Long Neak Ta festival, the Achars, respected elder villagers with deep knowledge of traditional culture, along with other senior members of the community, visited each household to announce the event’s schedule and encourage their participation.
Thach Chia, Head of the Organizing Committee of Cho hamlet, said: “Neak Ta is a deity with the power to protect the villagers. We also worship individuals who contributed to building and protecting the community. Worshiping Neak Ta is not superstition but a ritual to express gratitude to the village contributors and foster community bonds.”
Offerings to the Neak Ta ritual often include roasted pig, chicken, liquor, Siamese bananas, coconuts, rice, salt, coconut oil, a red thread, and cakes.
People bring offerings to the Neak Ta ritual. (photo: Thach Tra Vinh)
Son Son, an Achar from No Lua A hamlet, said: “Since the old times, our ancestors had worshiped Neak Ta to pray for peace and that no diseases would occur. They believed that Neak Ta would understand and bless them. With this faith in the divine, the Neak Ta ritual has been preserved and performed annually to this day.”
During the ceremony, the Achar performs the prayer ritual and pours liquor three times until the incense sticks burn out. He then reports on the past year’s harvest and prays for protection, good health, and abundant crops. The offerings are later shared in a communal meal.
Son Son said: “The ceremony is performed by households in the village, dedicated to a specific Neak Ta deity. It’s a time for families to gather, interact, and thus strengthen neighborliness and solidarity.”
Achar Thach Khia in Cho hamlet said: “Worshiping Neak Ta dates back to the time when the Khmer people followed Brahmanism. Now some procedures and rituals have been modified to suit modern life. Previously, the ritual only worshipped Neak Ta. Since we converted to Buddhism, the senior villagers and Achars have agreed to invite monks to chant blessings and offer vegetarian meals on this occasion.”
Monks chants blessings to the villagers. (photo: Thach Tra Vinh)
In the evening, villagers gather at the shrine for a peace prayer ceremony, where the monks chant blessings, recount the festival’s origin, and pray for favorable weather, good harvests, and safety. The festival atmosphere becomes even livelier with the sounds of traditional five-tone music, Sa Dam drums, and folk games. In multi-ethnic communities, the Kinh and Hoa people also join in, creating a jubilant atmosphere.
Thach Khia said: “The worship of Neak Ta also preserves traditional culture. We always teach young people to perform the ritual so it won’t be lost. Year after year, the Neak Ta worship ceremony becomes more joyful.”
The Dom Long Neak Ta festival is a respected cultural practice and an occasion to bridge the community. Last year, it was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism as a national intangible cultural heritage.