Khmer New Year-a 3 Day Celebration (or longer!)

So Wednesday morning I woke up at 3:20am and took this picture from our apartment window showing all the lights decorating the street & houses for Khmer New Year. It is a 3 day event and everyone leaves Phnom Penh and goes to the Province where they were born (home-land) to celebrate with extended family. The only ones left in the city are those who were born in Phnom Penh, and they stay in their homes celebrating, so the streets are virtually empty! As I was getting ready to leave our apartment, I heard loud cymbols clanging. Dad didn't have his shoes and socks on yet, so I hurried down 2 flights of stairs with the camera only to miss the scene. The cymbols and drum kept beating as the small band of 7 people went in and out of various homes. Dad quickly finished dressing and we left, walking quickly down the street until we passed the "music"? Standing on the corner he got these shots!

The drummer's drum is in the cart.

The second man who's costume looks like a "baby" is representing the "New Year",

and, ah yes, "Father Time"! Does this remind you of "ring out the old, ring in the new"?

As we pass other homes, we can't help but notice the beautifully decorated table with food, flowers, and incense that have been placed in front of the house.

We asked this young mother & daughter if we could possibly take a picture of their table.

The 1st day of Khmer New Year is called Moha Sang Kran and is the "inauguration of new angels" who come to take care of the world for a one year period. People clean & decorate the house and prepare fruits & drinks to welcome the arrival of new angles at every single home.

(You can see by the background that this mother is a "Tailor". Most of the Cambodian's have their business right in front of their home on the sidewalk.)

Half a block away we come to the corner of Monivong, a major street in Phnom Penh. Yes, this family is ready also and it is only 7:30AM.

The 2nd day, called Wanabot, is a day of offering gifts to the parents, grandparents, & elders!

Our Monk friend, David, told us that the 3rd day is called Leung Sakk, "which means the year starts to be counted up from this day". To complete the New Year festival, people will go to the pagoda at noon to perform the ceremony called "Pithi Srang Preah" or giving a special bath to the Buddha statues.

Be careful if you are out walking on this day, because everyone has fun throwing water and powder on each other, especially the unsuspecting passers-by! No wonder President Smedley told all our young Elders there would be a "Sports Day" from 8am to 4pm at the North District Center on Friday with American Pizza. :)