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    Wednesday, July 4, 2007

    Khmer Civilization across all historical periods Part 3




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    Royal Ploughing Festival (May 14)



    It is a belief depending on astrology that animal Oxen play a huge role in determination the destiny of agriculturally crops in each season of harvest. Therefore each year in May, this cultural ceremony is performed in royal method and also the King plays the important role in driving ox showing the real plaughing actions in the act of growing rice in Cambodia.




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    There's a scene where the oxen are offered the different types of crops for example rice, corn and beans and will the oxen eat the given crops, harvest will likely be high in the entire year. If any crops aren't eaten, the country will suffer the lower harvest or catastrophe throughout the year. Usually, the location is in the big area on the Northern wing of the Royal Palace.


    Pchumban Days (September 19-21)




    Pachumban or the Soul Day is among the most culturally important event of the year celebrated in September. Contrary to Khmer New Year, Pchumban event collects attention to blessing the souls. It's the particular occasion which each and every Cambodian family should go to Buddhist temple with foods offered to Buddhist monks in favor of blessing the souls of ancestors and forefathers, family members and friends who have died. Each pagoda is crowded with people getting turn to offer the food and some staying there for complete activities, especially listen to the Buddhist sermon.






    King Birthday Celebration



    The event expands through three days. People from all the corners of Cambodia play in the celebrations across capital and earlier night gorgeous huge fireworks show on the river banks, near the palace.




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    Water Festival (November 2- 4)



    It is a great festivity in the capital over three days. Water Festival commonly known as Boat Race Festival attracts a large number of people from all walks of life to the banks of Tonle Sap as well as the Mekong rivers. The activity during the day is boat races believed to date back to old time marking the victory of the Khmer strong marine forces during the Khmer empire and mentioned as thanksgiving holiday made to the spirit of Mekong river for supplying the nation with fertile land and also a lot of fish and thus for its reverse flow.




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    In the full nights, folks accumulate on the roads alongside the river and also at the national parks to enjoy different music and dances shows and along the riverbanks to relish the view of the night display, the embellished lights on boats showing the country's numerous identities and achievements. Each and every house during the night is also seen a holy place where pounded rice and local cake with coconut fruit are put to please the spirit of the moon as in the name of Buddhism considered home of the Buddha (according to Cambodian tale). Huge fireworks also display. It's a mass annual accumulating by locals and foreigners.




    Religion




    Theravada Buddhism is the official religion in Cambodia that is applied by 95 % of the population similar to those of Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka. However, Christianity and Cham Muslim have been lively and popular amongst a number of inhabitants too, within the capital and provinces, displaying an indication of growth. Daoism and Confuism also are typically applied amongst the Chinese people.




    Arts

    The Khmer (Cambodian) art is inherited itself along with influence by the ideas of Indians a long time before the lifetime of Khmer Empire during the third century AD. Javaneses (Indonesian) in 802 and French (1863). To far understand the Khmer arts, it's important to visit complex temples, especially Angkor Wat, structures, classical dances and textile (cotton and silk) industry, the products and display which are available in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.




    Cambodia Fine Art School inside the capital close to the old Olympic Stadium and the Royal Palace and in adjunct to the National Museum is actually of the great resource for the teaching of various Khmer arts, therefore a tour inside the schools would be useful for tourists to really understand the teaching process of Khmer arts, especially Khmer traditional dances and architecture.




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    Weaving Village situated along the Mekong River, about 10 minutes away from the Mekong Island by boat, is seen spectacular settings of the hand-made Khmer textile production that share the biggest materials of finest silk, cotton items in the Kingdom markets. The production is largely done by women with persistence and the weaving products and process and the amazing role of women creating best fabric products would significantly enlighten tourists.




    Khmer Civilization:

  • Part 1

  • Part 2

  • Part3



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