Cambodian New Year
by Heidi M. Pascual
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It was a few days after an unusual snowstorm in spring when
Cambodians in Wisconsin came in full force to the Buddhist Temple in
Oregon to celebrate New Year or Chaul Chnam Thmey in Khmer
language. Everyone was relieved and happy to see the clear blue sky and
warm weather that allowed the community to wear their beautiful
traditional Khmer clothes.
Cambodian New Year is held in April because back home, it is right
after the busiest season for farmers when they harvest their crops. It has
become a festival when everyone can rest and have fun.
I was told that Khmer/Cambodian New Year is celebrated for three
days, and the locals started on April 13 with mostly spiritual rites. The first
day, called Moha Songkran, marked the end of the year, and they
welcomed the new year by thoroughly cleaning and decorating their
homes and preparing food to be blessed by the monks at the Oregon
Temple. The day was also for meditation and chanting -- a time to
connect to the spirit world and reflect on one's life the past year. Just
outside the Temple was a small altar where fruits and incense were
aplenty for people's offering. The second day, April 14, was the festival
proper called Vanabat. Hundreds of Khmer and friends were in line to
share ethnic Cambodian food and thereafter were entertained by Khmer
classical and traditional dances, as well as traditional and modern
music. There were games for boys and children, and gift giving to
parents and elders. There was a community dance where everyone's
hands seemed to float then sway gracefully with every note of a song.
The third day, Tngai Laeung Saka, was dedicated to cleansing Buddha
images and bathing the elders, with the belief that water brings forth life
and must therefore be associated with loved ones.
The commitment of the Khmer community to maintain their cultural
traditions and share them with others in Wisconsin is apparent in this
most important yearly event that is celebrated with every family
contributing anything, no matter how big or small, that they could share
with others.