CAMBODIA FESTIVITIES
CAMBODIAN NEW YEAR
(BASK IN THE CELEBRATION OF NEW YEAR WITH TRADITIONAL FUN AND FESTIVITIES)
The Khmer New Year, or “Bon Chol Chhnam Thmei” in the Khmer
language, is commonly celebrated on 13th April each year although
sometimes the holiday may fall on the 14th April in keeping with the
Cambodian lunar calendar. This marks the end of the harvest season when farmers
enjoy the fruits of their labor and relax before the start of the rainy
seasons. The New Year holidays last for 3 days.
During this time, people engage in traditional Khmer games;
they paly such games as the Bas Angkunh” seed throwing”, Chaol Chhoung “
twisted scarf throwing”. Leak Kanseng “twisted scarf hide “, tug of war,
shuttlecock kicking etc. Throughout the country, people merrily dance the traditional
Khmer forms of the Ram Vong, Ram Kbach , Saravan and Lam Leav in the open.
THE THREE DAYS OF
KHMER NEW YEAR
MAHA SANGKRAN
The first day of New Year is known as Maha Sangkran. It
marks the beginning of a fresh year and generally, people would dress
themselves up and visit temples to make offerings, light candles and burn
incense.
VIRAK VANABAT
This is the second day of the New Year and Cambodians
observe this day by sharing and contributing to the less fortunate; charity for
the poor and homeless people.
THNGAY LEUNG SAKA
On this, the third day of the celebration, people would “bathe”
their parents or the elderly at home; ceremoniously pouring perfumed water over
their hands and Buddhists would “bathe “statues of the Buddha.
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