Khmer Maine and Watt Samaki Temple are excited to invite the community to celebrate the Khmer New Year at Riverbank Park in Westbrook on Saturday. This festival marks the end of the traditional harvest season in Cambodia and is a time for farmers to rest.
The event will take place from noon to 5 p.m. and will feature a variety of activities, including Cambodian food, dance performances, a parade, and more. There will also be a special kids section, Cambodian food stands, a market, and food trucks.
“We’re hopeful that we’ll draw out a lot of people,” said Navan Leng, president of Watt Samaki Temple in Buxton. “All are welcome to experience our culture and enjoy our traditional food.”
The parade will be a highlight of the event, with seven angels depicted by girls in traditional outfits leading the way, along with temple elders and monks. “They’re heralding the new year and signaling luck and good fortune,” said Marpheen Chann, executive director of Khmer Maine. “Monks will do water blessings where they splash water on folks.”
The festival is a great opportunity to learn more about Cambodian culture and to enjoy some delicious food. “Growing up in school, people would complain about how our lunches smelled,” said Christina Khin, a board member at Khmer Maine. “And events like this allow younger generations to see that things have changed, and that Americans like Khmer food.”
For more information about the Khmer New Year Festival and Parade, visit kny2024.com.
