Bonn Chaul Chhnam Khmer

When: Apr 2009

Where: Cambodia

As the harvest ends, Cambodia prepares for the New Year with three days of purification ceremonies, temple offerings, traditional games and a royal procession.

In houses across the country, people make offerings to the thousands of devodas (gods and goddesses of the sky) who are believed to make their pilgrimage to mythical Mount Meru at this time. Every home is spring-cleaned before an altar is constructed and decorated. Offerings are also made at local temples. The main entrances to temples are decorated with garlands of coconut leaves and flowers while, in the courtyards, monks bathe in perfumed water. The ceremony of Poon Phmon calls for people to build sandcastles in pagoda grounds, generally in perfumed water.

On the last day of Chaul Chhnam, known as Long Sak, the royal family calls upon the king in Phnom Penh to swear allegiance and wish him good health. Versions of this royal ceremony are performed in Cambodian families. Long Sak continues with entertainment including boxing, elephant and horse races and a royal procession.

In the countryside, traditional Khmer games such as Angkunh, Chaol Chhoung, Leak Kansaeng and tug-of-war are played - particularly at New Year, when villages fill with family gatherings. Angkunh is a bowls-like game played by two teams with a large nut (angkunh). Chaol Chhoung is similar to tennis except the ball is wrapped in a hankie and thrown, while Leak Kanseng is a Khmer version of “blind man’s buff”. The reward for the victors in most of these games seems to be the “friendly” rapping of the losers’ knees and elbows with solid objects - a source of great amusement!

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