THE KHMER NEW YEAR DAY

(In Campucheakrom)

The Khmer New Year Day, in Khmer called Chul-Chnam-Thmay is one of the most important feasts that has been performed not only Campucheakrom but also other countries as Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Myanma (Burma) etc. where places that Khmer people live in. It took place for a long time. Chul-Chnam-Thmay is the traditional Khmer New Year’s. It falls on the thirteenth to fifteenth of April every year.

April is the hottest month. It is when the sun moves into the constellation Aries and the year changes. Even though it is the hottest time, it is the time everybody looks forward to it. At this time, the Khmer people who lives in Campucheakrom on time they cut and harvest their rice from the farms. People take time off from their work all over three days and there are games, music played each other at home and other villages. During April there is no ploughing going on so farmers can rest and have fun to their heart’s contention. But for children and Khmer students, they had so short time to take a rest on these days. Because of their schools got final examination after Chul-Chnam-Thmay finished for a day. So, all of them tried to study hard, spent few times to go out with friends and learnt or do homework when they go back to arrive at  their home. Although it was busy to study, but they still try to spend this Holiday for the fun.

Some people, they went to visit family. And others got some presents to offer their relatives. However, they had a funny party each other. It is the great opportunity for merit-making and a special time for Khmer Krom to have fun, traditional, music, dance, games, and other activities in the pastime…

The Activities On Chul-Chnam-Thmay

         In the morning, people go to the temple to make merits by offering food to monks and novices, observing the precepts, such as: Five or Eight precepts and listening to the Dhamma talk (sermon). In the afternoon, they perform the bathing ceremony of the Buddha images and monks and novices who live in the temple. They carry the Buddha images out of the Hall into the outside, then throw or pour the water over the Buddha images. The first, the monks and novices and then Lay people, make like this one by one.

         During this time, the younger people ask blessings from the elders. This is known as Water Splashing Feast. It might be said that the Chul-Chnam-Thmay festival is the respected festival to the Elders or the Family Day.