By Nath Men & Sokhoeun Pang
April 16, 2012
South of Norway: At the Vennesla Hall, on Saturday of April 14, 2012, Cambodians celebrate the New Year. In the morning, the Khmer Buddhist Society (KBS) has organized the religious ceremony about 2 hours from 9.30 AM. The ceremony is led by a monk from Wat Thai-Norway, Olso. Thai people participate with us also. In the evening we celebrate New Year’s party from 5.00 PM to 12.00 PM. The party is organized by the Cambodian Association Norway (CAN). We have 350 people; both members and guests came to the New Year’s party.
We enjoy a delicious dinner with a variety of Cambodian foods and after that we listen to speeches from representatives of the Kristiansand City, Save the Children og Norwegian-Cambodian Friendship Association. In the time of the speeches we see Cambodian peacock dance, Robam Bopha Lokei (classical dance), Phourng Neary (classical dance) and Break dancing. From 8:00 PM we dance with all together.
Three days of New Year’s Celebration:
Cambodian/Khmer Happy New year (Bon Chol Chhnam Khmer) is the traditional celebration which Khmer people always celebrate annually. It is held for three days starting on 13th or 14th and ending on 15th or 16th in April every year. The reason to choose this period for the celebration, for it is the dry season and the time that Khmer people are free from harvesting season.
During the time to greet the new Deveda who will come to replace the old one, houses are traditionally cleaned, well-ordered decorated by flowers, multi-colored lanterns, fruits, and incenses in order to get the blessing from the Devada. Practically and traditionally candles and incenses will be lit, perfume will be sprayed, pin peat music will be played, drum will be beaten at every pagoda in order to greet the new coming Devada.
First day of New Year is called Maha Songkran (a word borrowed from Sanskrit ‘‘Maha Sankranti’’), the day is the end of the old year and beginning a new year. People light candles and incense at shrines where members of each family would like to offer thanks for the Buddha by bending knees and bowed down three times. It is not the real Buddhist tradition but it is derived from Hindu.
The second day of the New Year is called Virak-Wanabott’s Day. In the morning, people go to the pagodas and they bring with foods and fruits to give to the monks there. It means that they show their respect, politesse, kindness or gratitude to others. Some contribute the charity to help the poor people like foods or something else. At afternoon the children and adults play with a variety of traditional games at the pagodas or at the villages where they live.
The third day is the Tngay Lerng Sakk, the day is the end of New Year Celebration. People always wash the Buddha statues and their parents or grandparents with perfumed water. They do it because the water is very important for all types of plants and life. It is also believed to be a type of some that will bring life, happiness and prosperity. By the bathing to their grandparents and parents, children can obtain from them best wishes and good advice for the future.
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