Cambodians also use Buddhist Era to count the year based on the Buddhist calendar. For 2011, it is 2555 BE (Buddhist Era
The three days of the new year
Maha Songkran (មហាសង្រ្កាន្ត)
Maha Songkran, derived from Sanskrit Maha Sankranti,
is the name of the first day of the new year celebration. It is the
ending of the year and the beginning of a new one. People dress up and
light candles and burn incense sticks at shrines, where the members of
each family pay homage to offer thanks for the Buddha's teachings by
bowing, kneeling and prostrating themselves three times before his
image. For good luck people wash their face with holy water in the
morning, their chests at noon, and their feet in the evening before they
go to bed.
Virak Wanabat (វ័នបត)
Virak Wanabat is the name of the second day of the new year
celebration. People contribute charity to the less fortunate by helping
the poor, servants, homeless, and low-income families. Families attend a
dedication ceremony to their ancestors at the monastery.
Tngay Leang Saka (ថ្ងៃឡើងស័ក)
Tngay Leang Saka is the name of the third day of the new year
celebration. Buddhists cleanse the Buddha statues and their elders with
perfumed water. Bathing the Buddha images is the symbol that water will
be needed for all kinds of plants and lives. It is also thought to be a
kind deed that will bring longevity, good luck, happiness and prosperity
in life. By bathing their grandparents and parents, children can obtain
from them best wishes and good advice for the future.
New Year's customs
In temples, people erect a sand hillock on temple grounds. They mound
up a big pointed hill of sand or dome in the center which represents
sakyamuni satya, the stupa at Tavatimsa, where the Buddha's hair and diadem
are buried. The big stupa is surrounded by four small ones, which
represent the stupas of the Buddha's favorite disciples: Sariputta,
Moggallana, Ananda, and Maha Kassapa. There is another tradition called
Sraung Preah (ស្រង់ព្រះ) : pouring water or liquid plaster (a mixture of
water with some chalk powder) on elder relative, or people (mostly the
younger generation is responsible for pouring the water).
The Khmer New Year is also a time to prepare special dishes. One of these is a "kralan": a cake made from steamed rice mixed with beans or peas, grated coconut and coconut milk. The mixture is stuffed inside a bamboo stick and slowly roasted.
The Khmer New Year is also a time to prepare special dishes. One of these is a "kralan": a cake made from steamed rice mixed with beans or peas, grated coconut and coconut milk. The mixture is stuffed inside a bamboo stick and slowly roasted.
Khmer games (ល្បែងប្រជាប្រិយ)
Cambodia is home to a variety of games played to transform the dull
days into memorable occasions. These games are similar to those played
at Manipur, a north-eastern state in India. [3]
Throughout the Khmer New Year, street corners often are crowded with
friends and families enjoying a break from routine, filling their free
time with dancing and games. Typically, Khmer games help maintain one's
mental and physical dexterity. The body's blood pressure, muscle system
and brain are challenged and strengthened for fun.
A game played especially on the first nightfall of the Khmer New Year
by two groups of boys and girls. Ten or 20 people comprise each group,
standing in two rows opposite each other. One group throws the "chhoung"
to the other group. When it is caught, it will be rapidly thrown back
to the first group. If someone is hit by the "chhoung," the whole group
must dance to get the "chhoung" back while the other group sings.
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A game played by imitating a hen as she protects her chicks from a crow.
Adults typically play this game on the night of the first New Year's
Day. Participants usually appoint a strong player to play the hen who
protects "her" chicks, while another person is picked to be the "crow".
While both sides sing a song of bargaining, the crow tries to catch as
many chicks as possible as they hide behind the hen.
A game played by two groups of boys and girls. Each group throws
their own "angkunh" to hit the master "angkunhs," which belong to the
other group and are placed on the ground. The winners must knock the
knees of the losers with the "angkunh." "Angkunh" is also the name of an
inedible fruit seed, which looks like a knee bone.
A game played by a group of children sitting in a circle. Someone
holding a "kanseng" (Cambodian towel) that is twisted into a round shape
walks around the circle while singing a song. The person walking
secretly tries to place the "kanseng" behind one of the children. If
that chosen child realizes what is happening, he or she must pick up the
"kanseng" and beat the person sitting next to him or her.
- "Tres"
- "Chol Chhoung (ចោលឈូង) "
- "Chab Kon Kleng (ចាប់កូនខ្លែង) "
- "Bos Angkunh (បោះអង្គុញ)"
- "Leak Kanseng (លាក់កន្សែង) "
- "Bay Khom(បាយខុម)"
- "Klah Klok (ខ្លា ឃ្លោក) "
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