The MOST POPULAR GAMES PLAYED DURING KHMER NEW YEAR
Khmer New Year or Bon Chol Chnam Thmei is a 3-day festival and one of the greatest traditional festival and national holiday in Cambodia. During these 3 days, some popular Khmer games have been played such as following:
- Bos Angkunh:Bos Angkunh is a popular game played in Khmer New Year day by two groups of boys and girls. To play this game, one group places their Angkunh three to five on the ground in a semicircle. One other group, standing a few meters away, throws their Angkunh to hit the master Angkunh planting on the ground. You are the winner if your Angkunh is knocked over. The winners must knock the knee of the losers with the two Angkunh. If the knocking fails to produce a clack sound, you will be knocked your knee.
Angkunh is a fruit that grows on the trees found in the province of Stoeung Treng and Kratie, which look like the knee bone.
- Leak KanSeng:
Leak KanSeng is also the most popular game played in Khmer New Year day. To play this game, Krama (scarf) or KanSeng (towel) tied as Chhoung and a group of adults setting in a circle. One player take KanSeng and walks or runs around the circle behind the others players by singing a song “Leak KanSeng Chhmar Kham Kheng Or lorng Or lorng”. He/She drops secretly KanSeng behind one other player. If that player realizes what is happening, he/she must pick up KanSeng and beat the player setting next to him or her or the player who should have been hit will pick up the KanSeng and hit the unfortunate player whom it was dropped behind with it instead.
- Chol Chhoung:
To play this game, two groups of boys and girls are needed with Chhoung tied like a ball with a loose edges to grip and throw it. Around 10 or 20 people comprise each group, standing in tow rows opposite each other. One group throws the Choung to the other group. When it is caught, it will be rapidly thrown back to the first group. If someone is hit by the Chhoung, the whole group must dance to get the Choung back while the other group sings. And vice versa.
- Teagn Prot:
Teagn Prot is a tug-of-war game with teams of boys and girls pitting their strengths by pulling on the rope. Boys and girls form two groups. Group of boys and girls are chosen to stand at each end of the rope. A referee shouts “yak-or” and the players reply “ho-yerr”three times to ensure everyone is ready, them the referee rings a bell as each group pulls until he sees which one has been pulled over the line drawn in the dirt by the opponent. That group is the loser.
Sva Don Derm Slek Cher:
Sva Don Derm Slek Cher is also popular Khmer game. It takes two groups for this game. When a member of each group hears their number called, they have to quickly grab the slek cher (a bunch of leaves) before the other group, and run as fast as possible back to their places.
- Chab Kon Kleng:
A game played by imitating a hen as she protects her chicks from a crow. Adults typically play this game on the night of the first New Year's Day. Participants usually appoint a person with a strong build to play the hen leading many chicks. Another person is picked to be the crow. While both sides sing a song of bargaining, the crow tries to catch as many chicks as possible as they hide behind the hen.
