The Khmer New Year is also known as the Cambodian New Year, which is celebrated from April 14 to 16. This is because the Khmer people of Cambodia celebrate the holiday with a flourish. And indeed, just like the typical New Year’s Day celebrated by the entire globe on January 1, this event is filled with celebrations, fireworks, parties, and a great deal of fun! In several regions of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, this event coincides with the traditional solar new year.
HISTORY OF CAMBODIAN NEW YEAR
The Cambodian New Year, also known as the “Khmer” New Year, has historical and cultural origins in Cambodia. On this auspicious day, locals believe a new deity descends to take care of the world.
Dhammabal Koma, the son of a wealthy man, had effectively completed his study of the three Vedas, according to legend. His knowledge and ability to communicate with birds made him prominent. Once the monarch of gods learned of Koma’s intelligence, he presented him with a riddle to test it. The monarch, certain that Koma could not solve the riddle, decreed that the loser would be beheaded. For days, Koma attempted to solve the enigma but was unsuccessful. Eventually, he decided to commit suicide in the forest. While in the forest, he fell asleep and overheard two vultures conversing. During that discussion, he discovered the solution to the conundrum. The king was decapitated, and his daughters carried his skull on a platter in a ceremonial circle around Mount Sumeru, per his request. On this day, it is believed that a new angel descends to earth for the ceremony, bringing with him happiness and excellent weather.
To acknowledge the presence of the divine, Cambodians clean and light their dwellings with candles. They demonstrate their devotion to Buddha by offering sustenance to the spirits. Each of the three days of celebration has a designated event, and the goal is for Cambodians to create a multitude of lasting memories on their Khmer day.
5 FACTS REGARDING CAMBODIA
There are various dialects.
There are 19 spoken languages in the nation.
This is a Buddhist country.
About 95 percent of Cambodians identify as Buddhists.
It was once a French colony.
Cambodia was once a colony of the French Empire.
It is a tourism centre.
Tourism, Cambodia’s second-largest source of income, is a significant industry.
There are no birthday celebrations here.
Birthdays are not traditionally celebrated in the country.
