Khmer New Year Part 2

It is that time of year again! Part of the 3 week vacation that schools across the country get is Khmer New Year! To simplify what it is, it is like one big nationwide party where everyone plays traditional Khmer games, throws water/sprays people with it, and rubs baby powder on each others faces. Last year for me was less of spraying water and more a journey to different family members’ homes. This year was a combination of visiting and playing with water.

KNY with friends in the big town

Once Kyle and I got back from Indonesia, we had to spend the night in Phnom Penh before taking the bus back to our different sites. That night, we walked along the riverfront and got some Khmer snacks: sugar cane juice, Khmer donuts, Khmer waffles, and rice paste with sugar (play ai). While walking, we ran into Vanny, the head of the language and cross cultural coordination with Peace Corps. We talked to her and her family for a little bit before they packed up to go home. Off of the riverfront, all of the streets leading to our hostel had so many people in them. Everyone was spraying water and rubbing baby powder on each other. Kyle and I wanted to participate a little bit and so we walked in the street and got a lot of baby powder on our faces. This was for sure a good start to the new year before going back to my town! 

I took a calm bus ride back and had one night at my house (to clean it a little after being gone for a month). The next day, my host family took me to my older host brother’s hometown. We went there last year for Khmer New Year, but this year was more chill. One of the sister’s of my host brother had decided to make me her buddy for the day, and so I was bouncing between houses in the neighborhood having me introduce myself to everyone. I ended up going to a ceremony at someone’s house, saw a group of people playing cards at another house, and went to 3 other houses just to sit and chat with people. They all asked me where I was from and why I was in the rural area. The rest of the day was hanging out at the house before then walking to the pagoda at night to dance some more and let the kids play some carnival games. We all ended up sleeping outside (also like last year) but I came more prepared with long-sleeved clothes and socks so mosquitos couldn’t get me (plus having a fan). 

We came back the next day because I had the plan to go to the big provincial town to meet other volunteers in my province. We were all invited to go to the house of one of the teacher’s at a volunteer’s school because his house was on the main road to splash people with water. I biked to the town and we all got ready together to then walk over to the house on the Main Street. It was 3 hours of spraying water, baby powder, talking, and dancing. We had grilled vegetables and also had kutiev, which is Khmer noodle soup. Later we went to the concert in the provincial town where we got to sing and dance some more. The next day, we had breakfast together and then I biked home to then clean my room and prepare for the next week ahead of me. 

It is hard to describe the amount of fun Khmer New Year is but it is one big party that you spend with friends and family! There are also parts where you pray at the pagoda, but my host family does not do that as much so it is hard for me to describe those parts. 

Happy Khmer New Year to everyone and if you are thinking of visiting Cambodia, this is for sure something to experience! (Khmer New Year was officially April 14, 15, and 16, but festivities continue before and after)