Festival of entering the new year
   This festival is considered the Tet holiday of the Khmer (Age-Accepting Day). The Khmer’s Festival of Entering the New Year has a significance similar to that of the Lunar New Year of the Kinh. It means being happy with one year of age in the hope that the new year will bring good luck to all people; the good things will come and the bad, unlucky ones with be gone with the old year.

   The Festival of Entering the New Year takes place during 3 days (on the 13th, 14th and 15th days of solar April (in case of a leap year,the festival will take place on the 14th, 154th and 16th days of solar April)The first day: (i.e. the 13th day of solar April) It is called Thngay Choâl Sang- Kran Day. In the morning, Khmer people bring incenses,candles and offerings to a pagoda to perform the ritual of welcoming the great new calendar“Maha Sang Kran”. At night, everybody holds the worship ceremony of welcoming the new Fairy Tevada, listen to the monk’s sermon, then play and perform music pieces and community dances and songs on the yard of the pagoda.

   The second day: (i.e. the 14th day of solar April) It is called Thngay Vonabót Day. In the early morning and at noon,people bring rice and drink to the pagoda to perform the ritual of offering the rice to the monks and worship the soul of their ancestors, grand parents,and the dead persons who gave them birth and a settled position as well as brought them up. In the late evening or at night, everybody holds the activity of building sandy mountains (commonly called golden and silvered mountains). The next morning is the ceremony of becoming a monk.

   The third day: It is called Thngay Loâng Saéc Day. This is the ritual of bathing the Buddha. On the very day,after offering the rice (at breakfast and lunch) to the monks and listen to their sermon, everybody will bring the embalmed water, incenses and lamps into the pagoda to perform the ritual of bathing the Buddha.Then, they enter the central chamber or go to the tower containing the dead ashes to celebrate the requiem for the dead persons.

   After the ritual of bathing the Buddha at the pagoda, Khmer families invite the Monk home to perform the ritual of bathing their ancestors. After that the grandparents, parents and other members in the family gather to wish each other a happy new year. At night, they hold a party and games at home and in the village hall. The festival will end at late night.

   Nowadays, the Khmer in Tra Vinh province usually pay a visit to their friends and relatives and wish each other a happy new year during the three days of the Festival of Entering the New Year. They also go sightseeing, play and entertain themselves in the cultural venues, historical and cultural vestiges, resorts and beautiful places etc…
Map of Tra Vinh
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