Khmer Songkran Merit-Making

Khmer Songkran merit-making in Kratie Province: A simple yet meaningful New Year

During Songkran 2012, mr.hotsia had the chance to travel to Cambodia and experience the Khmer New Year, known locally as “Khmer New Year,” in Kratie Province, a small province hidden in northeastern Cambodia. Unlike the Thai Songkran I am used to, there was no water splashing or powder playing like in Bangkok or Luang Prabang where I have been before. Khmer Songkran focuses mainly on merit-making and paying respects to Buddha.

I started the Songkran morning in Kratie by waking up early to visit the rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River, just 15 kilometers from Kratie town. Seeing the dolphins peacefully swimming in the vast Mekong River was a very impressive sight. For those interested, mr.hotsia has written a detailed article about this experience.Irrawaddy Dolphins in the Mekong River, Kratie Province, CambodiaI highly recommend reading it.

After watching the dolphins, I traveled to a mountain temple in Kratie Province, which requires climbing several hundred steps to reach the summit. I was amazed to see people of all ages dressed in white, from children to young adults and the elderly, carrying packed meals in containers as they earnestly made merit at the temple. The atmosphere here was different from temples in Phnom Penh that I have seen, as everyone in Kratie was sincerely committed to merit-making together.

At this mountain temple, there is a tradition called “Sand Mound Building,” an activity I had never seen elsewhere. It begins with paying respects to Buddha and building sand mounds as a symbol of cleansing the mind and life. Then, villagers offer food to the monks for lunch, during which I had the chance to try Khmer food prepared by locals in packed lunch boxes. These meals usually consist of plain rice with simple dishes but are full of love and intention.

After offering food to the monks, I had the opportunity to pay respects to a Buddha statue at the mountain summit. This statue resembles Burmese art. Some visitors come here to make wishes or listen to advice from monks or knowledgeable persons. I am not sure if it is fortune-telling or Khmer-style destiny tying, but it reflects the beliefs and lifestyle of the Khmer people here very well.

Khmer Songkran hardly involves water splashing like in Bangkok or Luang Prabang. I understand this may be due to different local traditions and cultures. Although some water splashing occurs near the Thai border, it is absent in the capital and provinces like Kratie. Merit-making at temples, paying respects to Buddha, giving alms, and receiving blessings are the main activities Khmer people focus on during the New Year festival.

Speaking of Kratie Province, besides the Songkran experience, I recommend immersing yourself in the local lifestyle at Kratie’s morning market, which left a strong impression on me. The food here is simple but worth trying, such as chicken rice porridge available at several riverside stalls or grilled snakehead fish with a fragrant charcoal aroma.Food in Kratie ProvinceThe dishes I tried made me feel that although they are home-style meals, the flavors are extraordinary. The vast Mekong River and the evening sunlight add a special touch to the dining experience.

Kratie Province is also famous for its delicious banana chips, which I bought as souvenirs while traveling from Phnom Penh to Kratie. These banana chips are crispy and sweet in the authentic Khmer style. Those interested can read more details in the article.Dried Bananas from Kratie Provincewhich I have written about.

For anyone visiting Kratie, don’t forget to observe and truly experience the local way of life here. Besides witnessing cultural differences, you will learn about the simple yet profound beliefs and lifestyle that impressed me, mr.hotsia, greatly.

Finally, if you want to follow the images and atmosphere of breakfast, the market, and interesting street food in Kratie, I recommend watching the videos I recorded on YouTube, which includeBreakfast in Kratie, Breakfast at Kratie Morning MarketandEating in Kratie, Cambodiato give you a clearer picture of what it’s like here.

Overall, Khmer New Year Songkran in Kratie is an experience of peace and faith among villagers in a way that is not hectic like Songkran in our cities but full of meaning and intention to start the new year with merit-making and preserving long-standing traditions. mr.hotsia recommends everyone who wants to experience a unique Songkran to come here.