Prahok

As [wrongly] reported directly from Phnom Penh, it is Royal Ploughing Day today on the 5th of May in Cambodia.

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony marks the start of the rainy season. This year, it is on the 1st 5th of May. The plough (American spelling: plow) is a tool used in farming for initial cultivation of the soil in preparation for sowing seed. This ceremony marks the start of the rice-planting.

A ceremonial furrow is ploughed in the park in front of the National Museum in Phnom Penh. The ploughing is performed by a man, King of Meakh, and the sowing of the seeds is performed by a women, Queen Mehour.

After circling the field three times, the sacred cows are offered selected foods. They are brought to eat from seven silver trays containing rice, corn, beans, sesame seeds, grass, water and wine. These seven silver dishes symbolize the possible outcomes of the coming harvest.

Foretellers predict the following year based on appetite of the cows. The harvest of the coming season will be good if they choose the cereals. There will be plenty of rain if they drink water. But if they eat herbs, cattle disease can be expected. The worst can be expected when they drink alcohol.

The priests formulate the prediction of the coming season. They also call upon the protection of the gods.

During this festival both men and women are wearing brightly colored traditional Khmer costumes. Frits in Phnom Penh has some nice photos of lasts year ceremony here.

Formerly, this ceremony was conducted by the King. Today, the ritual is performed with representatives of the king taking the role of King Meakh and of Queen Mehour. This ceremony originally was a pure Brahman rite. Brahma is one of the three Hindu gods. The others are Vishnu and Shiva. They have been called the Hindu trinity. Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the preserver and Shiva is the destroyer. Later on, some Buddhist elements were added to it.

The date of this festival changes every year and is calculated according to the lunar calendar.

Cambodians name this festival ‘Bonn Chroat Preah Nongkoal’ or ‘Bonn Chrat Preah Nongkol’. The last word is the khmer word for plough (នង្គ័ល).

These days, all Cambodians all over the world are preparing themselfs for a three day new year holiday. It is a very important holiday for Cambodian’s. It starts this Saterday and lasts three days. Phnom Penh will become an almost deserted city. The area around Psar Thmei and the new Soriya shopping mall will be down during these three days.

As is the new year’s tradition, everyone will be driving up and down the riverfront road, dousing each other with water.

We here in Europe are heading to Paris (next time Phnom Penh?). Located near the ‘Bois de Vincennes’, there is a Bouddha temple. Cambodians gather together for praying, making music, eating, talking,… And the weather forecasts are promising for this WE.

Happy New Year!

សួស្តី​ឆ្នាំ​ថ្មី

Hi Groom-to-be. Marriage is a very important institution for Cambodians. It all starts with the asking of the girl’s hand. Read the story of a Chinese boy who took the challenge here. The story is commented in the Tales section.

Two more tales (one story and one more general article) have been added to the section Tales.

I started a new set of pages under the new section Tales. Folktales and legends form the origin of Cambodian traditions (and of any other culture). They are passed from generation to generation by storytellers and some are written down on paper or on a webpage. Folklore can contain religious or mythic elements, and it equally concerns itself with the traditions of everyday life. Telling stories appears to be universal, common to societies alike.

Some links are still under construction. Please check the page regulary for updates.