Visiting a Kathen (bonn kathen festival cambodia)

Kathen is the name of a religious ceremony which Cambodian people always celebrate every year in every pagoda for one night and a half day from October to November.

Last year my family and my relatives went to a Kathen in a pagoda in my home which is about fifteen kilometers to the south of the center of Takeo province. The Kathen was celebrated on Sunday, so it was a good time for us to go there because it was our holiday.

We rented a bus which could take all of us there. In the early morning at 5.00 on that Sunday, we gathered at my house, and got on the bus. We were putting on beautiful, traditional clothes. It took almost three hours to get to the pagoda because we all live in the city. Reaching the pagoda at 8.00 in the morning was really wonderful to visit the Kathen, it was beautiful day, the sky was blue and the sun was shining brightly. There were so many people, walking around in the pagoda. It was really a good experience to Visit a Kathen last year with our relative.

Khmer New Year

People of all races usually celebrate their own New Year every day. They set the time of celebrating their New Year in accordance with their beliefs, customs and traditions. Cambodian people have also held their New Year since the ancient time. 

Cambodian people celebrate Khmer New Year for three days, usually from 13^th to 15^th of April or Khmer called “KHE CHET” which is the time when people release from their hard work.

Before the New Year, people prepare food, clean their houses, buy new clothes and so on. However, the people in the country sides make traditional cakes called NUM ONSOM and MUM PUM. In the pagodas, we build sand mountains outside the temple. The first day of Khmer New Year is called MOHASANG KRAN.

The second day is named VIRAK VANABOUTH and the third day is called VIARAK LOEUNG SAK. The people always go to the pagodas to meet each other and play traditional games. Khmer New Year is the most perfect time for Cambodian people.