• Society

Sangkranta to Light Up New Year Celebrations

• By Teng Yalirozy
• April 10, 2024 6:10 PM

PHNOM PENH – Provinces across the country are ready to celebrate the annual Khmer New Year or Sangkranta which is set to take place from April 13 to 16. 

Colorful lanterns, star decorations and fairy lights have been prepared to welcome the new angel and celebrate the occasion before the start of the rainy season.

Khmer belief predicts angel Mohor Thak Ra Tevi, the seventh daughter of the King of Heaven Kabil Moha Prum, will arrive on earth on a peacock on April 13 at 10.24pm. 

The angel is dressed in blue and eats a type of antelope meat.  Dried beef can be offered instead.

Although there is no single major Sankranta event, different parts of each city and province will hold the event. 

In Phnom Penh, it will be at Wat Phnom Cultural and Historical Resort. Many traditional and entertainment events will be held, such as the New Year Angel Reception, Buddha Parade, building a mound of sand, bathing Buddha ritual, performing arts, traditional dance and games and exhibition of paintings and cultural artifacts.

The dragon, one of the twelve zodiac symbols in Khmer culture, represents the new year. For this reason, a golden dragon statue made of bamboo has been built and placed at Wat Phnom. The statue is 6m long and 5.4m high and took a month to build.

The dragon, one of the twelve zodiac symbols in Khmer culture, represents the new year. For this reason, a golden dragon statue made of bamboo has been built and placed at Wat Phnom. Photo_ Lay Long

Although the Angkor Sangkranta has been halted, the Siem Reap Provincial Administration will organize the “Siem Reap Sankranta” at Preah Reach Damnak Park and on both sides of the Siem Reap River from the bridge of the former Provincial Department of Tourism to Wat Damnak Bridge.

The event will feature a variety of entertainment, including Khmer folk games, riverboat rides, Siem Reap golf, food fairs, floating market visits and nightly concerts.

In Battambang province, events will run from April 12 to 16 on the campus of Net Yang High School and in front of the Provincial History Museum (former provincial hall). 

In Oddor Meanchey, the Sangkranta will be held in front of the provincial hall while in Banteay Meanchey, it will be at Meanchey Park in Serei Saophoan city.

Coastal provinces such as Koh Kong, Kampot and Kep also have many events for tourists for the full four days of the new year.

In other provinces, such as Rathanakiri, Mondulkiri, Prey Veng and Kampong Thom events will be spread out. In Kratie they will take place at 70 spots.  Kampong Cham, Tboung Khmum, Takeo and other provinces have also announced events and have urged tourists to come and visit.

All 25 provinces have been preparing Sangkranta a month ahead, hoping to bring new experiences to national and international tourists.

Next year, the country will submit Sangkranta in Cambodia and seven other cultural elements to be included on the list of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.