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[1] Hundreds of Cambodians honoured their village’s guardian spirits last month. They held a ceremony to pray for good fortune, rain and prosperity. The “He Neak Ta” ritual has been celebrated annually for several hundred years by the villagers in Phum Boeung. It is about 25km northwest of the country’s capital, Phnom Penh.
[2] The ceremony has become increasingly rare in modern times. It happened just as the summer monsoon began. This is when farmers prepare to plant rice. Although most Cambodians are Buddhist, the ritual reflects a widespread faith in animism. This is the belief that spirits can live inside all types of objects, living or otherwise.
[3] Chamrouen Ratha is a 26-year-old blacksmith. He took the day off work to join the other villagers. They were honouring the same spirits his ancestors had celebrated. “The significance of this ceremony is to pray for happiness and prosperity for all the villagers in this area and the participants who have joined this ceremony,” he said.
[4] Villagers of all ages met about 2km from the local monastery dedicated to their guardian spirit. Young men painted scenes inspired by local folklore on their faces and bodies. They also dressed as spirits and donned grass skirts. A few wore painted oversized heads atop their costumes. Many young women wore traditional silk clothing. They also wore gold-coloured necklaces and flowers tucked behind their ears. Some danced elegantly to the beat of handheld drums and small gongs.
[5] The procession included some participants travelling on motorbikes and even on horseback. It slowly made its way to the guardian spirit’s shrine. There, villagers lit incense sticks and offered various fruits, food and soft drinks. They prayed for good fortune, adequate rain, prosperity and the prevention of disease within their community.
[6] The half-day ceremony concluded with the spraying of holy water on the cheerful participants. “I pray for enough rainfall with abundant rice production ... so that villagers would enjoy their harvest,” said one of the costumed marchers, 30-year-old driver Sim Pov. Neak Mao, 64, brought two horses with him. He said he has attended the ceremony since he was young. “This celebration is to ensure that the traditions of our ancestors are not lost, which they have tried to preserve, and we continue to do so every year,” he said.
Source: Associated Press, May 21
