Villagers buy Loy Pratip

November is one of the most important months in Cambodia. Here, in Banteay Chhmar, is no exception.  It is both the month for the celebration of the Water Festival and beginning of the rice harvest.

The flooding throughout Cambodia forced the cancellation of the national Water Festival festivities in Phnom Penh. However, except for damage to the road, Banteay Chhmar was spared from the flooding and we were able to celebrate the holiday.

The annual Water Festival (Bon Om Touk) is dedicated to the Khmer army, especially the water forces that defended the kingdom in historic battles.  The celebration takes place every November, during the full moon period.

There were a variety of events and activities including boat racing, the preparation of dalambok (flattened rice) which is offered to the monks in the pagoda during the Moon Salutation (Sampeas Preah Khe).  The finale is the floating of the illuminated candle boats (Loy Pratip).  These boats are a way of offering blessings, good luck and wishes for the next year.

Please see our Water Festival photo gallery page.

Boat racing during Water Festival

November is also the start of the rice harvest (j’rook s’rao).  Again, having been spared from the flooding, it looks like it will be a good rice harvest this year in Banteay Chhmar.  This means workers can earn more money and the rice can be sold at a higher price.

Visitors are encouraged to visit the rice fields with a tour guide and learn about all the hard work that goes into planting and harvesting rice.  Maybe you can lend a hand, too!

Rice Harvest

Ley Moeuy, CBT cook votes

In September, CBT members gathered in the CBT office for new committee elections. Elections are held every 2 years and they also help to recognize the achievements and challenges of the CBT. This year, we had 11 candidates running for CBT President and Vice-President.  All the candidates are from the four villages surrounding Banteay Chhmar Temple.

We are pleased to announce that the CBT members have re-elected Bieng Sruon, as the CBT President.  Sang Ponlock, has been elected as Vice-President.

Bieng Sruon was born in 1974 in Banteay Chhmar Tbong village in Banteay Chhmar Commune.  In 1991, he returned from a refugee camp along the Cambodian-Thai border. In early 1994, he married  Rith Reth. They have raised 3 children – all girls. He owns a phone shop across from the Banteay Chhmar market. He has a professional job repairing mobile phones, televisions, CD and DVD players. In 2007, he decided to work for the CBT. He was quickly elected President.  He can also speak English and Thai. His ideas about the CBT are that “The CBT can provide extra income and work for villagers, share experiences with each other and tourists and protect the heritage and culture of Cambodia.”

Sang Ponlock was born in 1979 in Pongro Village, Tapou Commune in Battambang Province. in 1991, he and his family moved from a refugee camp along the Cambodian-Thai border to Sras Chray village in Banteay Chhmar Commune. in 2000 , he married Khal Sary, from Sras Chray village. They have raised 2 children – one boy and one girl.In 2007, he decided to work for the CBT. He was quickly elected accountant. He can also speak English and do tour guide from beginning the CBT project. His ideas about the CBT are that Conservation asset, improve extra income for family and development Banteay Chhmar. Local authorities from Banteay Chhmar Commune, the 4 village chiefs and CBT members participated and voted in the CBT election.

Pchum Ben ceremony

Num Ansom 'Sticky Rice Cake'

Pchum Ben is celebrated in September. It is one of the most important holidays and cultural events in Cambodia.  It is a time of prayer, remembrance and dedication to deceased relatives.  It is celebrated over 15 days from the first moon to full moon in September. Most  villagers will bring food, flowers, candles & incense to the pagoda. Food is also given to monks and the monks pray for the villagers’ ancestors. In Banteay Chhmar, villagers from each village are responsible for all the expenses on a certain day and this continues for several more days.  On the full moon day, all the villagers go to the pagoda together to pray and honor their ancestors.

CBT members attend English class

July was a month of goodbyes for us here in Banteay Chhmar. Our English-language teacher, Andrew Marino, completed his teaching contract with Heritage Watch. Andrew spent the last year teaching English to the CBT members and tour guides. He also helped tremendously with CBT operations and capacity-building. Andrew built the CBT website, did fundraising, budgeting and reporting. He also helped the CBT members understand hospitality-related issues and ways to improve the facilities and comfort level for visitors. Fortunately, Andrew will continue to help the CBT as much as possible with website administration, monthly reporting, planning, fundraising and trying to improve the facilities and visitors’ experience. He is also interested in helping with sustainable community development and livelihoods projects.

Peace Corps volunteer Kenny Halloran (center)

Also, Peace Corps volunteer, Kenny Halloran, completed his assignment. Kenny taught mostly in the high school.  He also helped teach students at the pagoda and the CBT members, as well.  Good luck, Kenny!

CBT members visit Mebon Temple

On July 11th, a few CBT members took a trip to another one of the satellite temples. They went to see the Mebon Temple. This 800 year-old temple is located on a man-made island in the middle of the Mebon Baray (reservoir). This huge baray was the main water reservoir during the Angkorian period.  There was an intricate pattern of inflow and outflow canals connected to this baray. The baray was dug by hand during the construction period of Banteay Chhmar Temple and the laterite stone was used as building material throughout the temple complex. The baray is still used today as a water source, for growing rice, catching fish and is a good place for birdwatching and watching a sunset.

Mebon Temple

The temple, itself, is mostly collapsed and heavily covered by vines, trees and thickets.  It is only accessible during the dry season and requires sure footing and care to reach. It is definitely worth a trip for the more adventurous-minded.

Another Donation!

The CBT received another donation this month. Paul Marino, brother of our English teacher, and his wife Joyce donated a camera to the CBT. The camera will help us with marketing, reporting and help to document our activities and progress. Thank you Paul and Joyce!

Finally, we have added a Support Us page to our website to thank and honor our supporters and donors. We are very grateful to the individuals and organizations that have and continue to support us.  Thank you everyone!

Ahn and Savy (from left) with the bride’s parents and bride’s sister

May was a very special month for one of our CBT members.  Soeung Savy celebrated her wedding with her new husband, Ahn.  The wedding celebration took place May 14-15.

Everyone from the Banteay Chhmar CBT would like to wish Savy and Ahn a long, happy marriage and life together.

The wedding ceremony included the Hai Goan Gomloh (Groom’s Processional). At the beginning of the day, the bride customarily waits at her parent’s house while the groom gathers a procession of his family and friends. The procession symbolizes the journey of the prince Preah Thong to meet his bride the princess Neang Neak. The groom’s procession approaches the bride’s home bearing wrapped platters of gifts, usually fruits and Khmer desserts, and is led by a band of musicians and singers.

Hair Cutting Ceremony

The cermony also included the Gaat Sah (Hair Cutting ceremony). To prepare the bride and groom for their life as a married couple, their hair is symbolically cut, representing a fresh start to their new relationship together as husband and wife. The master of ceremony performs the first symbolic hair cut and wishes the couple happiness, prosperity, and longevity. The bride and groom’s parents, relatives, and friends then take turn to symbolically cut the bride and groom’s hair and give them blessings and well-wishes. In the old days, the bride and groom’s hair were really cut during this ceremony, but in modern times it is only done symbolically.

Please see our Gallery and YouTube Channel for a video of some of the wedding festivities.  To learn more about traditional and modern Khmer wedding ceremonies please visit: Khmer Wedding

Homestay Owners receive loans from GHF

May was also an important month for our Banteay Chhmar CBT homestay owners.  On May 12th, John Sanday, Field Director from Global Heritage Fund, presented each homestay owner with a $300 no-interest loan to upgrade their homestays.  The money will be used to upgrade the bathroom facilities with western-style toilets, showerheads and a water storage tank.  The homestay owners will do the labor themselves and pay for miscellenous building materials.  Each homestay owner has agreed to repay the loan based on their ability – about 2 years.  We hope to have some photos of the improvements next month!

Cutural Heritage Protection Workshop

Finally, on May 26th, Sok Pagna Keo, from Heritage Watch conducted a workshop on Cultural Heritage Protection at Banteay Torp.  More than 100 villagers attended the workshop.  Speakers from local and national government departments spoke about the importance of protecting ancient sites, temples and artifacts.

Temple moat

March was a very unusual month here in Banteay Chhmar. The weather was unseasonably cool and windy.  We had several cloudy and windy days late in the month.  The wind chill averaged in the mid 50s (about 13C) during the day and much cooler at night.  Despite the cold weather, the moat continues to fill with beautiful lotus flowers and the cassava continues to be harvested, cut and dried by the villagers.

Village elders receive presents

The highlight of the month was the celebration of Khmer Cultural Day on March 13th.  In Banteay Chhmar, we celebrated with speeches, music, dance and the giving of gifts to village elders. Excellency Sam Rang Kom San (Secretary of State of Cambodia) and Excellency Oung Uon (Banteay Meanchey Provincial Governor) were among the speakers and presenters.

Two especially beautiful dances were performed by Apsara dancers from the Kroo-a-saa T’may (New Family) organization in Sisophon. One dance is called Poung Maree (Flower Women).  A complete slideshow can be seen on the Poung Maree Gallery page.

Poung Maree (Flower Women) Dance

Poung Maree (Flower Women) Dance