Xi's Southeast Asia Tour: Khmer New Year: Joy in every splash
The Khmer New Year is the biggest celebration of the year in Cambodia. The vibrant three-day festival marks the start of the traditional calendar. It's all about family reunions, temple offerings, and spirited water fights. Our reporter Huang Fei dives into the festivities with a local podcaster.
They say New Year is about fresh starts, joy and togetherness. And Cambodian New Year? It's all that and a whole lot wetter.
HUANG FEI Phnom Penh "It's New Year in Cambodia and what better way to soak in the spirits than starting our day right in the heart of the city. I'm joined by local podcaster Sakura. Hi!"
ENGLY TUY (SAKURA) Lifestyle Podcaster "Hi, Happy New Year. Right now we are at the iconic central market."
The Central Market has been a landmark since 1937. Touristy? Yes. But locals still come here to prep for New Year.
Sakura: We prepare the flowers, we prepare the food, especially the fruits to welcome the Angel and we wish for the New Year the Angel brings us luck. We also use the lotus flowers to welcome the angel.
Sandy: In my culture, we also prepare lots of flowers for the New Year and different flowers have different meanings.
Sakura: We also take these flowers to celebrate the Khmer New Year, but when the government or maybe also royal family hold ceremonies, they use those kinds of flowers too.
Sandy: It does have this regal feeling to it.
Just like Chinese New Year, there's decorating, praying, and a lot of eating.
"Green beans and coconut. Delicious."
But something else here feels familiar.
"Happy New Year!"
"You accept Alipay and WeChat Pay?"
"Yes, yes."
This market knows its audience. Some have been here for decades, others are just getting started, and ready to hustle.
Sandy "How old are you? You look young."
Gigi "I'm 25 and I'm single."
Clearly, this market is where everything happens. But after all that heat, it's time to cool off somewhere else.
"And we are on the Mekong River!"
ENGLY TUY (SAKURA) Lifestyle Podcaster "Some people don't go to the provinces, they can come to the riverside, take a boat and enjoy the sunset."
As Sakura heads home to her family, I wasn't ready to call it a night because the real party was just getting started.
HUANG FE Phnom Penh "You can't say you've truly celebrated Khmer New Year if you haven't been part of the water fight and it seems the entire city is here. The water is meant to wash away your sins and bad luck from the previous year. And I'm getting absolutely soaked. I hope 2025 will be a splendid year."
Dancing through the streets, drenched in excitement – Khmer New Year is a time to reconnect, reset, and step into the future together. And that spirit is something we all share – across Asia, across cultures.
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