Cambodian new year's fete celebrates heritage while also raising funds

Kannitha Heng of Modesto performs the Apsara dance, traditional classical dance, at the Modesto Cambodian Buddhist Society Inc. celebration of the Cambodian New Year, held at their grounds at 1538 Grimes Ave., April 13, 2013. (The Modesto Bee - Debbie Noda/dnoda@modbee.com)

Saturday, Apr. 13, 2013
By Nan Austin
The Modesto Bee (California, USA)

MODESTO -- For Cambodians, new year's isn't a day, it is a week or more of blessing, giving, celebrating and getting together.

"For us it's Thanksgiving, Christmas and new year's all rolled into one," said K.C. Chhan, a staff member with the Modesto Cambodian Buddhist Society Inc. and Khmer Youth of Modesto.

"It's a time to be thankful for what we have, and a time to be charitable as well," she said.

Three days of celebrations, which began Friday at the center on Grimes Avenue, show off Cambodian culture and, organizers hope, bring in donations for a community center and temple that the organization will submit plans for next week, said organization President Van Prom, who came to the United States as a refugee in 1975. He was among only a handful of families to come that first year, he said.

The center, planned as a three-year pay-as-they-go project, and the celebration go hand in hand, Prom said, to help the next generation of Cambodian-Americans understand their roots.

Documentary maker Daniel Tho was filming dancers and community members at the event Saturday, hoping to preserve the memories of those who fled Cambodia through the 1980s.

"Slowly our culture is dying here on American soil," Tho said. The loss of language, culture and heritage "is our No. 1 fear" he said.

As a woman in elaborate costume and gold headdress moved gracefully through a stylized dance, palms tipped back, Chhan said the choreography symbolized an angel blessing the gathering for a year of health, prosperity and happiness.

Bright colors in costumes and worn by festivalgoers are partly tradition, and partly a reaction to the brutal Khmer Rouge regime, which was in power from 1975-79. "For four years we were forced to wear black. Nothing but black," Chhan said, as so many of her countrymen were killed. She left Cambodia at age 11.

Today, the community numbers about 5,000, organizers said, with families marrying into many cultures. The three-day new year celebration brought out about 1,000 people to celebrate in the sunshine Saturday.

Sophea Acosta brought her 3-year-old daughter Isabella to learn the old ways. "I love the dancing, the entertainment. There's a lot of history and heritage and lots of culture," Acosta said as she nibbled on mango wedges dipped in chili paste.

Jonathan Bun's favorite thing? "It's the food, always," he said, "and meeting new people."

Cooks Chet Yin and Rourn Kung manned three barbecues turning out beef on sticks, meatballs and boneless chicken pieces stuffed with noodles and lemon grass. Yin works for three months to prepare the meat she sells at the festival.

Kung said she's just the helper as she flipped meat and dabbed on sauce. "I've no idea what she puts in it, but it's delicious," she said.