Khmer New Year, also known as “Choul Chnam Thmey,” meaning entering the new year, is a national holiday hosted by Cambodians annually. It is the season when Cambodians have free time from harvesting rice and other agricultural commodities. The event is Cambodia’s largest event and lasts three days, on the 13th, 14th, or 15th of April (in a specific year, it could be on the 14th to 16th of April).
The Royal Palace of Cambodia is a complex of buildings although it is generally understood to be the Royal abode of the King of Cambodia.
Independence Monument, or Vimean Ekareach as it is referred to in Khmer, is a majestic structure that dominates Phnom Penh city center.
The palm tree is a kind of plant that has been widely grown in Cambodia for a long time ago. The palm tree, commonly known as Borassus flabellifer in scientific name and in Khmer called “Tnaot”
Giant Barb is defined as the national fish of Cambodia. Giant barb is a freshwater fish. It was called in Khmer Trei Kol Raing or Trei Ka Hourn, or Trei Kbal Larn, and it is called in the scientific name “Catlocarpio Siamensis” and the English name “Giant Barb”.
Chek Pong Moin is called in the Khmer language, and the name of the scientific is Musa Aromatic and Chicken Egg Banana in English. The banana is a type of banana used by Cambodia people for a various purpose.
Royal Turtle is a reptile that represents Khmer culture and is also known as “Arn Derk SorSai” or “Arn Derk Loung” in Khmer, as well as the English name Royal Turtle and the scientific name “Batagur Baska”.
Giant Ibis (Tror Yorng) is a species of bird that is identified as a symbol for the Cambodian nation. The adults have overall dark grayish-brown plumage, with a naked greyish head, and upper neck.
The Koupreys “Grey ox” is a little-known, forest-dwelling, wild bovine species from Southeast Asia. Koupreys is a mammal species identified as a symbol for the Cambodian nation and a rare animal in the world.
Kramar is a sturdy traditional Cambodian garment and signifies the Khmer cultural identity with many daily-life uses and ornate by all segments and religions.
Bakong, also known as Indresvara, is one of the most beautiful temples in Siem Reap and is the first temple mountain of sandstone built by rulers of the Khmer Empire at Angkor near modern Sime Reap in Cambodia.
The gestures of this dance generally imitate the praying mantis, and costumes are the color of the insect.
According to the book Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Cambodia, Lakhaon Khaol is one of the oldest forms of Cambodian performing arts practiced as early as the Angkor period.
Koh Ker Temple in Preah Vihear province is constituted as “one of the marvels of Cambodian monumental heritage” by UNESCO.
When talking about Angkor’s highest temple, Phnom Bakheng stands first. It offers the finest and most beautiful scenery in the surrounding region.
The National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh is the country’s leading historical and archeological museum and the country’s largest museum of history. It was officially inaugurated by King Sisowat in 1920.
Leak Kon Saeng or Scarf Hidden Game is a kind of game that ancient Khmer children are often played as a recreation during the nighttime (under the moonlight), during the Khmer New Year season, or in between their free time.
The kingdom of Cambodia has a wealth of traditional and cultural festivals dated according to the Cambodian lunar calendar. All these festival are influenced by the concept of Buddhism, Hinduism, and royal cultures. The festivals, which serves as a source of great joy, merriment and Cambodian’s national colors, play a major role in influencing tourists’ opinions, behaviors, and options. Most of these are a time of replacing the predominantly urban and rural populace.
There are many types of Khmer games. Some games are played only on the daytime or night time, some are played during Khmer Lunar new year, and some games are played indefinitely. Games that usually play only during the night time with moonlight and no need to have any festival such as Orb Tror Lach or Bes Ov Loeuk etc. This game is a fun game for girls and boys in every rural country in Cambodia.
Folk dances are performed at religious ceremonies, festivities, and leisurely entertainment. Traditionally, all dances were performed in the village in large clearings or public areas at times of birth, marriage, death, during planting and harvesting, hunting, war, or at a feast. There are many dances related to Buddhist beliefs, one of them is Robam Kgnork Pouthisat.
Lakhaon Poul Srei is the female version of Lakhaon Khaol (classical male masked theater), which literally translates as ‘female narration’. Both forms combine classical theater and dance and are accompanied by the traditional pin peat orchestra. Unlike Lakhaon Khaol, which uses a separate group of narrators, Lakhaon Poul Srei dancers take turns narrating while other members continue to dance. The dancers often lift their masks and narrate directly to the audience.
There were different flags used as the national flag of Cambodia since 1863. The Cambodian flag has three stripes and the middle one is larger than the blue ones which are at the top and the bottom. However, the middle stripe is red with the Angkor Wat in the middle of the flag.
Romduol, a small yellowish-white flower, is the national flower of the Kingdom of Cambodia via the proclamation of a royal decree by King Sihamoni of Cambodia in 2005. The Khmer common name is “Romduol” and […]
In Khmer so-called Preah Reach Pithi Chrot Preah Neangkoal, the Royal Plowing Day is traditionally held in May on the 4th day of the 6th Lunar month’s waning moon. To celebrate the arrival of the rainy season, people gather to eat and pray for a plentiful crop. The centerpiece of this festival day is a ritual in which representatives of our King plow and plant rice at the ceremonial when the rice growth period is upcoming.
Sdech Jang or King Game is a game that boys, girls, or teenagers from every village all over Cambodia, always play during their free time at night time under the moonlight. Players have too many male and female players which unlimited. When playing, they are divided into two groups, one male, and one female. In both groups, they set up a male or a female as a king to sit in the center.
Krob Moin game is an entertaining game for teenagers both male and female from all over Cambodia, often play in the free time at night. Players consist of male and female about 8 to 10 people on each side. For playing the game, they will choose one male and one female from both sides, covering them by skirt, scarf or blanket from hair to toe. But, do not let them know who they are and let the two face each other, man represent a male chick and woman represent a female chick.
Bet Paun is a game where young boys and girls always play on the night of the dawn. This game is played indefinitely in any season or month, as long as there is leisure time and no limit to the number of people. The measure of this game consists of the one who hides the others and the searcher. When the searcher catching the hide players and rounded their ears.
“Chol Chhoung”, known as “Chhoung”, is one of the most famous Khmer folk games. This game can ignite all players’ joy, bonding, and fascination. Moreover, this is the type of Khmer throwing game that everyone, especially teens and young adults, plays at the pagoda during Khmer New Year in April.
