PHOUMBON, Cambodia (AP) — Hundreds of Cambodian villagers took part in a rare traditional guardian spirit ceremony Tuesday to pray for good luck, rain and prosperity in an effort to preserve the ancient tradition.
The ceremony, better known as “He Neak Tha” in Khmer, took place about 25 kilometers northwest of the capital, Phnom Penh, where young men painted their faces and bodies with scenes from local folklore and dressed as spirits in grass skirts, while young women donned traditional costumes.
Most Cambodians are Buddhists and also practice animism, believing that spirits reside in all kinds of living and non-living things.
This ancient ritual has been celebrated by the residents of Phumbon village at the start of the annual rainy season for hundreds of years. In ancient times it was practiced in almost every village across the country, but is now rare.
“This ceremony has been held every year since I was born. I saw my grandfather and father celebrating it and wanted to uphold the tradition of my ancestors, so I performed it today,” said Sem Phum, 35.
Villagers, young and old, gather about three kilometers away from the guardian temple and then ride horses to the temple accompanied by traditional music.
At the shrine, villagers light incense sticks and make offerings of fruits, food, soft drinks and sake while praying for good fortune, abundant rain, prosperity and prevention of disease for the entire community. The half-day ceremony ends with the squirting of holy water on the cheerful participants.
Meth Sokry, a 30-year-old blacksmith who wore leaves adorning her clothes and face as a spirit, said she had applied for leave from her boss a month in advance to ensure she could take part in the ceremony.
“When I asked my boss for permission, I told him that today’s ceremony is important to me so I would take the day off even if I wasn’t allowed to take time off,” Meth Sokri said.
Cambodia is a country that relies heavily on agriculture, fishing and forestry for its livelihood, with more than 60 percent of Cambodians living in the countryside. The ritual coincides with the summer monsoon, when farmers prepare for the rice-growing season, one of the most water-hungry crops.
Cambodia is expected to export more than 656,000 tonnes of milled rice to international markets in 2023, marking a three percent increase compared to 2022, according to data from the Cambodian Rice Federation.