Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Khmer New Year/Chaul Chnam Thmey

This is the third and final day of Chaul Chnam Thmey (“Enter New Year”, AKA the Khmer New Year).

Most all the businesses in Phnom Penh have been closed since Monday, April 14 and some will remain closed for the balance of this week. The streets in Phnom Penh, normally bustling with traffic from morning to night have been mostly empty. Most all the Khmer people who live in Phnom Penh have gone to visit their families in the provinces and to spend time together in traditional Khmer New Year celebrations. With Buddhist roots the traditional Khmer New Year celebrations include going to temple, sharing meals with family, giving to people less fortunate, lighting candles and incense, and cleaning Buddha statues with perfumed water. There are also many traditional games that are played during this time. The Khmer New Year always coincides with the end of harvest season - signifying the time with farmers enjoy the fruits of their labor and preceding the coming of the rainy season.  

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