Ceremonies of Significance for Cambodians

Ceremonies - Its Significance in Brief

Meak Boja

The Meak Boja commemorates the improvised congregation of 1250 Buddhist Monks (third month of luna calendar) which took place on the full moon of Meak at Veluvan in Northern India.

Cambodian New Year

The Cambodian almanac make general predictions for the year to come. It foretells the weather conditions, the prospect of rain, harvest, and the welfare of the people. The celebration is to show gratidute to the leaving demi-god, guardian of the previous year and the welcoming of the new demi-god, gaurdian of the new year. A small altar is erected in front of every house to welcome the new demi-god. It is a three days and three nights celebration.

Visak Boja

Visak Boja is the most important ceremony for the Cambodian Buddhists. It is a triple anniversary celebration commenmorating (6th month of the lunar calander) the birthday of the Buddha, his enlightment and his Parenivana. These three events took place on the full moon of Visak.

Rainy Season Retreat

The rainy season retreat had been prescribed by Buddha and observed by all Buddhist monks. The purpose is to provide them enough time to engage in religious rituals, Buddhist studies and to save them from the task of alms begging in the wet season. Necessary Provisions are provided by followers and laymen of the village.

Pchum Ben

Pchum Ben is a mixture of Buddhist and local belief ceremony which takes place while the Buddhist monks are in retreat during the rainy season. It lasts for fifteen days from the wane of the moon in the month of Bhatrabot. On the last day, villagers gather at the monastery to pray for the souls of their relatives and ancestors and prepare a big feast for the Buddhist monks.

Chhlang Ben(last most important day)

The traditional celebration day is on the 15th waned moon day of the month of October. The temple observes also this date, but at the same time a Sunday is chosen for that event for the general populace who cannot attend on the traditional day celebration.

Out of rainy season retreat

In this religious ceremony, Buddhist monks tell laymen and villagers that they've been attending and observing rules and regulations relating to the retreat. They proclaim that the retreat is over and they can resume their routine tasks as usual.

Kathen(yellow robe offering ceremony)

Kathen can be organised on any day within a period of 30 days following the out of rainy season retreat. This religious function consists of a feast and offering of yellow robes and basic neccessity to Buddhist monks. People believe they earn a lot of merit in this ceremony.

Water festival(not celebrated in Australia)

Buddhist monks do not play any mportant role in this ceremony. It is a ceremony expressing thank and paying gratitude to the Mekong river which fertilizes their fields with its silt. It coincides with the time when the Tonle Sap water flows out into the China sea.

Usually, it coincides with the kinks birthday, especially Kink Sihanouk. In the old days, there was a royal exhibition called Taing Tok, in which people brough in their best harvest product to put on display organised within the royal palace compound.