Battambang, KH – Pigs fattened for Khmer New Year sales – 28 Feb 2013

MY family purchased two piglets for $120 to $150 with a loan, and they have fattened them up ready to sell them for Khmer New Year, which starts on Saturday, 13 April 2013 and is three days of celebration with water, and members of the community coming to street corners with friends and families to dance and play games according to Cambodian tradition.

Pigs for Khmer New Year celebrations

The New Year marks the end of year 2556 BE (Buddhist Era – based on the Buddhist calendar) and beginning of year 2557.

Day 1: Maha Songkran marks the end of the previous year and the start of a new one. To be blessed with good luck for the year, people wash their face with holy water in the morning, and washing their chest in afternoon, and washing their feet in the evening. Cambodians will dress up, and go to temple and shrines to pay homage to Buddha and ancestors.

Day 2: On Virak Wanabat, Cambodians do good deeds by donating and contributing to charities.

Day 3: On Tngay Leang Saka, Buddhists bath the Buddha statues with perfumed water. People also bath their elderly to get good wishes and advice.