Women in native dress participate in the Cambodian New Year celebration Sunday at the Lynn Buddhist Temple. (Jonathon M. Whitmore photo)By Jill Casey Boston Herald (Mass., USA)
Monday, April 17, 2006
LYNN -- More than 1,000 people from Lynn, Lowell, Lawrence and New York turned out for the city's fourth annual Cambodian New Year celebration over the weekend.
"The celebration is geared toward preserving the customs and cultures of Cambodian people," said Sareth Sak, voice of Cambodian-American TV (VCA-TV) and the Lynn Buddhist Temple, who hosted and organized the event. "People are proud to be here because it brings Cambodia to Lynn."
The festivities surrounding "the Year of the Dog," began on Friday and consisted of religious and cultural celebrations. The first day of Khmer New Year is traditionally known as the inauguration of the new angels, who come to take care of the world in the coming year. The second day is the day of offering, where Cambodians share gifts with their families and friends, and the third day, is the true kick off of the New Year.
On Sunday, crowds of revelers lined Story Avenue and Chestnut Street beginning at 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. to play games and watch the Giant Puppet Parade and live cultural dancing going on.
Several local politicians also attended, including Mayor Edward Clancy Jr. and State Rep. Steve Walsh, D-Lynn.
Although the local Cambodian population appears to be in a constant state of flux, increasing and decreasing over the last five years, Sak said these types of events are very important for the younger generations.
"It informs all the generations about where they came from," adding, "If you don't know your roots, then you won't be able to grow."
And while much of the event was focused on preserving Cambodian heritage, a little bit of assimilation was evident. In between playing games, revelers munched on hot dogs, hamburgers and drank sodas.
"The celebration is geared toward preserving the customs and cultures of Cambodian people," said Sareth Sak, voice of Cambodian-American TV (VCA-TV) and the Lynn Buddhist Temple, who hosted and organized the event. "People are proud to be here because it brings Cambodia to Lynn."
The festivities surrounding "the Year of the Dog," began on Friday and consisted of religious and cultural celebrations. The first day of Khmer New Year is traditionally known as the inauguration of the new angels, who come to take care of the world in the coming year. The second day is the day of offering, where Cambodians share gifts with their families and friends, and the third day, is the true kick off of the New Year.
On Sunday, crowds of revelers lined Story Avenue and Chestnut Street beginning at 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. to play games and watch the Giant Puppet Parade and live cultural dancing going on.
Several local politicians also attended, including Mayor Edward Clancy Jr. and State Rep. Steve Walsh, D-Lynn.
Although the local Cambodian population appears to be in a constant state of flux, increasing and decreasing over the last five years, Sak said these types of events are very important for the younger generations.
"It informs all the generations about where they came from," adding, "If you don't know your roots, then you won't be able to grow."
And while much of the event was focused on preserving Cambodian heritage, a little bit of assimilation was evident. In between playing games, revelers munched on hot dogs, hamburgers and drank sodas.
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