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Cambodian New Year (Khmer: បុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំថ្មី, Choul Chnam Thmey) is a traditional celebration of the solar New Year in Cambodia. A three-day public holiday for the country, the observance begins on New Year's Day, which usually falls on 13 April or 14 April, which is the end of the harvesting season, when farmers enjoy the fruits of their labor before the rainy season begins. The Khmer New Year coincides with the traditional solar New Year in several parts of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand.
There are different traditions on each day:
Day 1: Maha Songkran (មហាសង្រ្កាន្ត)
On the first day of Khmer New Year people place fruit in front of their houses as an offering to the gods. They believe that the new gods will come to take nourishment from the fruits and give their blessings for their house.
Day 2: Virak Vanabat (វិរ:វ័នបត)
On the second day people visit their relatives, give gifts to their parents, arrange a nice lunch with them or do visiting together.
Day 3: Vearak Loeng Sak (វារៈឡើងស័ក)
On the last day, people bathe statues of Buddha and their parents and grandparents with water blessed by monks. In Khmer language called “Srong Tek. This is a way to respect the Buddha and their parents, bring them health and long life, and ask for their forgiveness for past wrongdoings.
Over the three days, people also bring some food to the pagoda for ancestors who have passed away.
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