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Celebrate Khmer New Year

On 10th of April 2024, Go Ahead Organization celebrated Khmer New Year Party which is an annual Party of iHerb Open Space School which is designed to provide students a joyful moment together with Khmer Traditional game before the Khmer New Year, gather the students together with alumni, and share some life experiences from the alumni. All the students enjoyed the party and the event was led by Go Ahead Volunteering students.

Traditional games

Cambodia is home to a variety of traditional games played to transform the dull days into memorable occasions.​ Throughout the Khmer New Year, street corners often are crowded with friends and families enjoying a break from routine, filling their free time with dancing and games. Typically, Khmer games help maintain one’s mental and physical dexterity.

Chol Chhoung

Chol Chhoung is a game played by two groups of boys and girls. Ten or 20 people comprise each group, standing in two rows opposite each other. One group​ sing a paragraph of song and throws the chhoung to the other group. When it is caught, it will be rapidly thrown back to the first group. If someone is hit by the chhoung, the whole group must dance to get the chhoung back while the other group sings to the dance.

Leak Kanseng

Leak Kanseng (Leăk Kánsêng)⁣ is a game played by a group of children sitting in a circle. Someone holding a “kanseng” (Cambodian towel) that is twisted into a round shape walks around the circle while singing a song. The person walking secretly tries to place the “kanseng” behind one of the children. If that chosen child realizes what is happening, he or she must pick up the “kanseng” and beat the person sitting right hand of him or her.

Veay K’aom

Veay K’aom or Hit the Earthen Pot Game, is a folk game that is popular among all classes, which is played in pagoda grounds during the Khmer New Year. The purpose of this game is to chase away bad things and evil things through the broken pot.

How to play the game

This game must be well prepared in advance. You need to find two poles on both sides (can be trees or any pillars) to tie a rope in the proper length and width to support the weight of the pot. In the pot, they put fragrant powder, representing freedom and happiness.

Separately, they also need to prepare a stick with a length proportional to the height of the jar. Usually, they need to blindfold the eyes of the hitter with a scarf and then rotate it 3 times. After that, they let the hitter hit the pot according to his own sense. Sometimes, the supporters also help by informing the direction to the hitter. If the hitter hits the wrong target three times, he is considered the loser. In particular, if he hits the pot and breaks it, he is considered the winner.

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