Cambodian New Year | Chol Chnam Thmay | Tết Khmer | 2022

Chol Chnam Thmay is one of the most important events of the year for the Khmer community. It usually lasts three days and is celebrated in pagodas.

Chol Chnam Thmay is the New Year celebration which scheduled Khmer’s traditional calendar. Chaul Chnam Thmay Festival is the New Year as well as Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka. In addition to the fact that the main religions are Buddhism, Khmer people believe that every year there is a God in heaven (Tevoda) sent down to take care of human life and come back in the end of the year, and afterwards the other will replace . These days become the traditional festival of the whole Cambodian community.

Chol Chnam Thmay Festival lasts 3 days (13 – 15/4 each year). In three days, people often go to the pagoda in order to offer prayers for their own health, wealth and prosperity. They bring flowers to the pagoda to hear the lecture in the morning and perform the ritual bathing Buddha. Instead of blessing the beginning of the year, the Cambodian welcome the New Year by the ceremonial pouring water on each other. Regardless of adults, children, foreign tourists, they all join in pouring water cheerfully.

The first day known as Chaul Say Thmay Kran means that the beginning day of the New Year. On this day, people dress up and carry incense, lamps and offerings to the temple. At the temple, people will hold chanting and sprinkling water in some places to farewell the god of the old year, banish evil spirits and clean bad luck things of the old year.

On the second day called as Wanabat (Wonbof), Khmer carry out the ritual New Year celebration. The first activity is Mahasoongkran. The procession goes around three times to the main temple and after that, Buddhist people will chant to await the New Year God. During this time, the Youth organizes games such as: blindfold, cock, bag dancing, polishing or entertainment shows.

During the final day, Tngai Laeung Saka (Lom Sak), after offering breakfast and lunch to the monks, people join in bathing Buddha ceremony. In the family, people bath grandparents, parents in hopes of that bathing will clean the dust of the old year and bless happy life for the old.

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