Preserving and Promoting the Value of Folk Religious Culture of the Khmer Ethnic Community in Kien Giang Province in the Current Period

The Khmer people in Kien Giang province still preserve many traditional festivals and folk beliefs. Besides annual festival activities such as Chol Chnam Thmay, Ok-Om-Bok, Sene Dolta, … with Theravada pagodas as the center for organizing and performing rituals, the Khmer people in Kien Giang also preserve some folk beliefs such as worshiping the god Ong Ta, the god Arak Neak Ta,… These beliefs not only have spiritual significance but also unite the community and preserve cultural identity. In an integrated world, the traditional beliefs of the Khmer ethnic community are facing many challenges, such as: the influence of new religions, the indifference of the younger generation, the commercialization of festivals, etc. The article proposes solutions, such as: cultural documentation, sustainable tourism development, increased education and support from the government to preserve and promote this unique cultural value.