Jos Pror’ Mat Game “ល្បែងចោះប្រមាត់” is originated from Kampong Phlouk of Prasat Bakong district, Kampong Khleang of Soutr Nikum district and Chi Kreng district, Siem Reap Province. This Game is played during the rainy season from the 1 Rouch (1st day of the waning moon) of the month of Bhadrapad “ភទ្របទ” (tenth month of the Cambodia Lunar calendar corresponding to mid-August to mid-September) to the 15 Kert (15th day of the waxing moon) of the month of Kattik “កក្តិក” (twelfth month of the Cambodia Lunar calendar corresponding to mid-October to mid-November) every year.
How to play
There are two boats, one for chasing consist of all male, another one for running consist of all female. The size and capacity of the boats are about the same, and the capacity is limited from the minimum of 4 to the maximum of 10 people. If there are many players, they put the boats in pairs, one male boat and one female boat.
This game is played in shallow water, neck-deep or head-deep. When the game starts, the two team get into their respective boat, and the male boat row close to the female boat that is the partner of their boat. When the male row near the female boat, the men shout, “Jos Pror’ Mat” to the women. The female team sometimes answer, “Jos Kor Jos meaning Agree” or “No”. When the men team hear the words “Yes”, “No”, or “Silence”, they shout in unison, “Chase”. Hearing only the “Chase” word, the women rowed their boat to escape away, while the men tried to catch up.
The chase, sometimes successful and sometimes fail, depending on their strength. If the men caught up, they jumped in and grabbed the women’s boat and let it sink and the women swim away. At that time, the women were not adherent to the norm and just played around in the water. The men chased the women until they were exhausted and tired, and then they all pull out the boat and started playing again. If they played in the morning, they would play until lunchtime, and if they played at night, they would play until midnight, and then the men would let the women go home.
