Serendipity Bom Chaul Chnam Festival in Cambodia-source: https://travel.com.vn/

This festival takes place from 13rd to 15th of April every year. It is known as traditional New Year’s Day named Chol Chnam Thmay of Cambodia. The first Festival was formed time long ago to celebrate a bumper rice crop harvest. People do splash each other with the hope of a new successful harvest.

In Bom Chaul Chnam festival, Cambodian residents bring fresh flowers and sacrifice to pagodas in order to worship Buddha. People will listen to Biblical lectures, perform Buddha bathing ritual, and arrange flowers and flags into the top of sand stupas. Then, people gather on the street and splash into each other. Splashing water into each other is regarded as a wish for New Year.

You will have chance to enjoy traditional Apsara dance in Bom Chaul Chnam Festival.

Performing traditional Apsara dance is the festival’s main activity in Cambodia. You will understand more of the Cambodian’s physical and spirit life. In the past, Apsara dance was only performed for Kings and the nobility in the Palace. Nowadays, this dance is widely performed in the occasion of holidays or festival. Apsara dance has become the asset and the soul of pretty Cambodia. You will have chance to admire beautiful girls with brilliant makeup who perform famous mellifluous classic dance with the neatness, noble and gentle gestures.

In Bom Chaul Chnam festival, Cambodia people splash water on each other instead of saying the best wish in New Year. Not only local people but also tourists are eager to join in the festival. Regardless of adults, children, tourists, regardless of skin color, they all join into the funny splash water on each other in a cordial atmosphere. People will prepare their own with tools to splash water and engage cool splash screen as buckets, pots, water guns, etc. There are services of providing water for participants in Bom Chaul Chnam festival; it makes the festival more attractive and happier. 

Editor: Qing Cheng