A Change of Guard

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Monday 23 April 2012

A simpler, more peaceful Songkran - in Cambodia [A white man's view of the Khmer New Year]

April 23, 2012 
The Nation
 
I have just returned to Thailand after a visit to Cambodia, where I spent Songkran in Siem Reap. 

What a vast difference in the way it is celebrated! I was privileged to be invited into a Cambodian home where I saw teenage and adult children pay respect to their parents by pouring perfumed and flower-petal water over their hands before receiving a parental blessing in return.
There was no sign of Songkran-gone-crazy on the streets. Where was everybody, I asked? "Oh, we go to the temple for Songkran," was the reply. And sure enough, when I went to the local temple, there they all were, including young novice monks enjoying building stupas from the new sand that the faithful had brought to the wat.
Is it too late for Thailand to return to these simple means of celebrating this important festival, which seems to have lost its meaning in Thailand today?
David Brown
Rayong

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

David is very good in observation; he gave Cambodian number one over Thais that meant Cambodian can maintain her tradition despite of the invasion of foreigner, tourist, modern technology etc.

Cambodia New Year never uses water or paint white stuff in their face to celebrate like being use in Thailand. Khmer does not use water to throw over people, it is an act of disrespect or harass, because during the New Year we all dress up very expensive cloth.

Khmer normal celebrate at home or at temple but not in street unlike Thailand they went wild on street created chaos and traffic congestion.

Khmer New Year meant for peace and give respect to alive ancestor, and prosperity of the incoming year. Peace means no trouble therefore Khmer prefer celebrate quiet way at home and temple.