The most important activity on the first day of the new year for the Khmer is the Maha Sangkran procession. People bathe, wear nice clothes, and carry offerings to the pagoda. The procession takes place at a pre-selected auspicious time, regardless of morning or afternoon.
Chol Chnam Thmay is a festival celebrating the new year according to the traditional Khmer calendar. “Chol” means “to enter” and “Chnam Thmay” means “new year”. Every year, the festival usually takes place around mid-April of the solar calendar, including many traditional rituals and folk games.
Chol Chnam Thmay is the biggest festival of the year for the Cambodian people and for more than 1.3 million Khmer people in Vietnam. The festival has many similarities with the Bunpimay Festival of Laos, the Songkran Festival of Thailand, or the Thingyan Festival of Myanmar.
For the Khmer, April is the transition between the dry season and the rainy season. At this time, plants and trees return to their former splendor and nature comes to life. The Khmer consider the change and awakening of nature as the beginning of a new year. The celebration of Chol Chnam Thmay comes from the purpose of praying for the dry season to pass quickly so that the new crop can begin.
Because it is meant to welcome the rainy season, the new crop and is the biggest festival of the year, in the past, Chol Chnam Thmay lasted from 10 to 15 days. In recent decades, in the trend of simplifying festivals in general, this festival has only lasted 3 days (not to mention the preparation work for many days before).
These three days are calculated according to the Khmer calendar of Cambodia. The Khmer, influenced by astronomy transmitted from India, calculate the beginning of the year in two ways: “Chol” is calculated according to the movement of the moon and marks the change with the symbol of 12 animals representing the zodiac in a period. “Chnam” is calculated according to the movement of the sun. “Chol” is calculated in April of the solar calendar, while “Chnam” changes according to the full or waning moon. This year, Tet takes place from April 14 to 16, 2023.
Let's take a look at the Khmer New Year images through the lens of photographer Le Van Hai at Khedol Pagoda, Tay Ninh city.
The third day is the Buddha bathing and monk bathing ceremony.
Chol Chnam Thmay is the biggest festival of the year for the Cambodian people and for more than 1.3 million Khmer people in Vietnam. The festival has many similarities with the Bunpimay Festival of Laos, the Songkran Festival of Thailand, or the Thingyan Festival of Myanmar.
On the occasion of Chol Chnam Thmay, Khmer people in the village bring rice to the pagoda to offer to the monks, and listen to the chanting of Buddhist scriptures.
The ritual of bathing Buddha statues and monks shows respect for Buddha and monks, and is also closely linked to praying for rain to start the new crop. At the same time, in Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, there is a water-splashing festival at the beginning of the year, which is also part of the meaning of welcoming the new year and praying for rain.
On the third day of Chol Chnam Thmay, Khmer people hold a Buddha bathing ceremony and a prayer ceremony.
The grand calendar is placed on a gilded red tray and carried on a palanquin around the main hall three times solemnly, both to welcome the new year and to wait for signs of a good or bad new year, depending on whether the procession is complete or not, before entering the main hall for the ceremony.
When performing the great calendar procession ceremony, some pagodas also organize a five-tone orchestra or a Chhay-dam dance group with the leader wearing a mask and holding a stick to dance and open the way...
Thanh Duc Vinh
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