Sunday, April 22, 2012

Happy Khmer New Year 2012 in Battambang Province

Garden along Sangker River in Battambang Town

Khmer New Year Day was always celebrated in the mid-April every year. Certainly, this New Year season in Cambodia was already done within three days – April 13-15 2012. Importantly, the main purpose of Khmer New Year is not only to welcome the new princess of naga or dragon, but also the happiest time of Khmer people to meet all relatives in hometown and to respect parents by kneeing in front of them, saying sorry for all mistakes, and giving gifts to them both. Populating over 1 million people, all Khmer citizens in Battambang were also well-prepared to enjoy celebrating Khmer New Year taken food and drink to the pagodas and prayed for happiness ever after. First, they cleaned their house with smart decoration, went to market to buy raw materials like meat and vegetable for cooking, and packaged the food and dessert with fresh flower to grant the monk in the pagodas. Driving a car as well as motor, each family went to pagodas near or far as they preferred. Not far from Battambang Town, Wat Balat was the one of the oldest pagoda built since the early 1900s by the fund of a high-ranking person in the province, Balat. The sculpture of the pagoda was so good with the talent of Khmer artists in Battambang. From young to old, this pagoda has been being one of the best memories with family in life enjoying solidarity lunch, taking family photograph, and reading the meaningful Buddha words on the wall of the wooden building inside the pagoda. Many other ancient pagodas with good architecture in Battambang were Wat Keo, Wat Piphitearam, Wat Kampheng, Wat Ek Phnom, Wat Ta Mim, Wat Tuol Ta Ek, Wat Kandal, Wat Sangker, Wat Kor, Wat Ratanak, Wat Prey Toch, Wat Baset, Wat Sneung, etc.  It seemed people were out of city during this 3 days being in different natural resorts in Battambang, especially resorts along national road 57A such as Phnom Sampov, Phnom Banan, Sek Sork Rapids, Pech Chinda Rapids, Chamlorng Kuoy Rapids, Kvak Rapids, Sneung Temple, and so on. New garden along Sangker River was so beautiful with green grass, palm tree, and other big trees. This Khmer New Year was so happy visiting hometown, Phnom Sampov, and parents’ orchards in Rattanak Mondul. Happy! Happy! Happy everyone!

By: POK Panhavuth

Ek Phnom Temple

Garden on the Other Side of Sangker River

Buddha in Wat Ek Phnom

Phnom Sampov in Battambang

View from the Top of Phnom Sampov

(All Photos Copy Right to POK Panhavuth)



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