The Modesto Bee - Debbie Noda/dnoda@modbee.com
Colorful buddha temples representing different phases of past, present,
and future are visited by attendees at the Modesto Cambodian Buddhist
Society Inc. celebration of the Cambodian New Year, April 13, 2013.
Saturday, Apr. 13, 2013
MODESTO -- For Cambodians, new year's isn't a day, it is a week or more of blessing, giving, celebrating and getting together.
"For
us it's Thanksgiving, Christmas and new year's all rolled into one,"
said K.C. Chhan, a staff member with the Modesto Cambodian Buddhist
Society Inc. and Khmer Youth of Modesto.
"It's a time to be thankful for what we have, and a time to be charitable as well," she said.
Three days of celebrations, which began Friday at the center on
Grimes Avenue, show off Cambodian culture and, organizers hope, bring in
donations for a community center and temple that the organization will
submit plans for next week, said organization President Van Prom, who
came to the United States as a refugee in 1975. He was among only a
handful of families to come that first year, he said.
The center,
planned as a three-year pay-as-they-go project, and the celebration go
hand in hand, Prom said, to help the next generation of
Cambodian-Americans understand their roots.
Documentary maker
Daniel Tho was filming dancers and community members at the event
Saturday, hoping to preserve the memories of those who fled Cambodia
through the 1980s.
"Slowly our culture is dying here on American
soil," Tho said. The loss of language, culture and heritage "is our No. 1
fear" he said.
As a woman in elaborate costume and gold headdress
moved gracefully through a stylized dance, palms tipped back, Chhan
said the choreography symbolized an angel blessing the gathering for a
year of health, prosperity and happiness.
Bright colors in
costumes and worn by festivalgoers are partly tradition, and partly a
reaction to the brutal Khmer Rouge regime, which was in power from
1975-79. "For four years we were forced to wear black. Nothing but
black," Chhan said, as so many of her countrymen were killed. She left
Cambodia at age 11.
Today, the community numbers about 5,000,
organizers said, with families marrying into many cultures. The
three-day new year celebration brought out about 1,000 people to
celebrate in the sunshine Saturday.
Sophea Acosta brought her
3-year-old daughter Isabella to learn the old ways. "I love the dancing,
the entertainment. There's a lot of history and heritage and lots of
culture," Acosta said as she nibbled on mango wedges dipped in chili
paste.
Jonathan Bun's favorite thing? "It's the food, always," he said, "and meeting new people."
Cooks
Chet Yin and Rourn Kung manned three barbecues turning out beef on
sticks, meatballs and boneless chicken pieces stuffed with noodles and
lemon grass. Yin works for three months to prepare the meat she sells at
the festival.
Kung said she's just the helper as she flipped meat
and dabbed on sauce. "I've no idea what she puts in it, but it's
delicious," she said.
Bee staff writer Nan Austin can be reached at 
(209) 578-2339 or naustin@modbee.com; and on Twitter, @NanAustin.
(209) 578-2339 or naustin@modbee.com; and on Twitter, @NanAustin.
MORE TODAY
WHEN: 12:30 to 7 p.m. today
WHERE: 1538 Grimes Ave.
WHAT: The
Modesto Cambodian Buddhist Society is concluding its free, three-day
new year celebration. Today's events are: religious observances, 9 a.m.
to noon; free lunch at noon; cultural dancing and a mud race starting at
12:30 p.m.; and Buddha bathing ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Activities and
food vendors will be available until 7 p.m.
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