Tết Chôl Chnăm Thmây of the Khmer people

Mekong Delta, Khmer, Khmer Theravada Buddhism

When

Three days in mid-April of the solar calendar (four days in a leap year), calculated according to the Khmer calendar; in the past it lasted 10 to 15 days

Where the offerings are set

Theravada Buddhist pagodas; an offering table in front of the house

Who makes the offering

Buddhists of the whole phum sóc (village); monks and the achar guide

Offerings

Steps

1. First day (Chôl Sangkran Thmây): choose an auspicious hour, bathe, dress nicely, bring offerings to the pagoda to perform the ceremony of welcoming the Great Calendar (Maha Sangkran), walk three times around the main hall to welcome the Têvêđa of the new year
2. Second day (Wonbơt): in the morning, offer rice to the monks; the monks perform a ceremony of gratitude to those who produced the rice; in the afternoon, build sand mountains in the pagoda courtyard under the guidance of the achar
3. Third day (Lơng Sắk): the monks use flower branches to sprinkle scented water on Buddha statues (Buddha bathing ceremony), then bathe the monks; invite monks to chant sutras for the deceased at the stupa of ashes for deceased relatives
4. At noon on the third day, return home to bathe the Buddha statue worshipped in the house, congratulate and offer cakes to thank grandparents and parents

Where the sources differ

• Số núi cát: Tạp chí Công Thương ghi đắp tám núi nhỏ theo tám hướng và núi thứ chín ở giữa; Tạp chí Thị trường Tài chính Tiền tệ ghi một núi lớn ở giữa tượng trưng núi Tu Di và bốn núi nhỏ chung quanh

Southern Vietnam (Nam Bộ, no finer detail in the source), Khmer, TPHCM, Vĩnh Long, Khmer Theravada Buddhism, At the pagoda, temple or temple of literature (paired with a prayer said at home)

When

Chiều ngày cuối của Tết (bài tả ngày 16 tháng 4)

Where the offerings are set

Candaransi Pagoda (Ho Chi Minh City); Pisesaram Pagoda (Bình Phú Commune, Vĩnh Long Province)

Who makes the offering

The abbot presides; Buddhists follow in turn

Offerings

Steps

1. Three drum rolls signal, inviting the Buddha statue out to the ceremony place
2. The abbot sprinkles scented water on the Buddha statue; Buddhists in turn pour scented water on the statue
3. Bathing the monks: use scented water to wash the hands and feet of the abbot; the monks bless in return

Mekong Delta, Khmer, Khmer Theravada Buddhism, Indoor offering

Where the offerings are set

At home

Who makes the offering

The family; some households invite monks to chant sutras and give blessings

Offerings

Steps

1. Set up an offering table in front of the house, facing a favourable direction, to welcome the deity of the new year
2. Prepare a tray of rice and burn incense to invite the ancestors home for reunion
3. Bathe the Buddha statue kept in the house; sometimes a bathing rite is also held for grandparents and parents to show filial gratitude
4. Invite monks to the house to chant sutras and give blessings