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Songkran Festival was inherited in Thailand and many countries in the region of Southeast Asia; Cambodia, Laos,
Myanmar and group of Tai people continually maintained their own traditions in Songkran Festival from the past to the
present. Each region performed in the similar customs and practices of Songkran Festival. Nevertheless it was differential in

204 some cultural procedures and traditions.

Songkran Festival in Cambodia
Songkran Festival in Cambodia held on the day of lunar system and subsequently deferred as the day of solar
calendar during 13th -14th April. Cambodian people believed in Songkran Day as the legend of Dharmapalakumar won Thao
Kabila Brahma in answering all his questions. Songkran Festival in Cambodia held on three days. The common tradition took
place 3 days before Songkran Day. All people prepared the foods, cleaned their houses and arranged the altars for the deities.
The oblations were composed of five candles, five incenses, five branches of flowers, five bowls of popped rice, two sets of
cooked rice offering under a conical arrangement of fold leaves and flowers, betel-nuts, cigarettes and fruits. The sacrifice for
the deities held on the first day of Songkran Festival. The second day, people offered the foods to the monks in the morning
and carried the sand to the temple in the evening and jointly formed the sand pagoda (Phra Sai) and filled the water into the
jar. The third day was Thaloeng Sok Day of beginning a new era, the monks was invited to pray for the celebration of Phra
Sai, people preferably sprinkled the water onto the images of Buddha, also poured the water on the hands of their respectful
elders and joined in several recreations such as Luk Chuang, Saba, Mon Son Pha, etc. in the court of temple.1
Songkran tradition in the royal court of Cambodia was recorded in the book titled โ€œThe Royal Ceremonies of Twelve
Months in Cambodia composed by Okya Theppithu (Cheum Korsame) and Khun Udompreecha (Jab Pin). The characteristics
of royal ceremonies had similar principles with Thailand but also dissimilar in some details of royal ceremonies. For instance,
the royal ceremony in the end of a year during the fourth month called โ€œThe Royal Ceremony of Trut-Songkranโ€ was the
same day of the Royal Ceremony of Samphatchorachin in Thailand and the royal ceremony in a New Year during the fifth
month called โ€œThe Royal Ceremony of Beginning a New Yearโ€.
The royal ceremony of royal court in Cambodia during the fourth month was โ€œThe Royal Ceremony of Trut-Songkranโ€
or โ€œThe Royal Ceremony of Juan Trutโ€ or โ€œThe Royal Ceremony of Samphatchorachinโ€ or โ€œThe Royal Ceremony of Praying
Catubhanavarapali (Panayaka)โ€. The word โ€œTrutโ€ or Tarasati referred to rid or dispel. The above-mentioned royal ceremony
was a royal ceremony in the end of former year during the 12th-15th day of waning moon in the fourth month. The monks had
been invited praying the Buddhistโ€™s Mantra at Dheva Winitchai Throne Hall in the grand palace and five marquees around
the grand palace. The holy threads for the fillet, the string of amulets in the shape of triangle or square and Krabong Petch
(made from sugar palms curled like a birdโ€™s head and authenticated with Khmer words and prayed the Pali incantations) had
been dedicated to the Majesty King and then he bestowed them to the royal members and courtiers to put on or hold them
while the Buddhist monks were praying the litanies of Dhammachakka Sutta, Mahasamaya Sutta and Panayaka to exorcise
the spirits and change oneโ€™s bad fortune through a ceremony in a new year to have the prosperity and glory to the throne
and country.2
The royal ceremony in the fifth month was the royal ceremony of beginning a new year which held on 3 days as the
following description;3