PHUM BOEUNG — Hundreds of Cambodians honored their village's guardian spirits on Thursday morning with a centuries-old ceremony to pray for good fortune, rain and prosperity in Phum Boeung, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) northwest of Phnom Penh. The "He Neak Ta" ritual has been celebrated annually for several hundred years by villagers in the area, though it has become less common in modern times.
The ceremony coincides with the onset of the summer monsoon as farmers prepare for planting rice. Although most Cambodians are Buddhist, the ritual reflects a widespread faith in animism, the belief that spirits can inhabit all types of living and inanimate objects.
Villagers of all ages congregated about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the local monastery dedicated to their guardian spirit. Young village men painted scenes inspired by local folklore on their faces and bodies, dressed as spirits and donned grass skirts, while a few participants wore painted oversized heads atop their costumes. Many young women wore traditional silk clothing, with gold-colored necklaces and flowers tucked behind their ears.
Some participants danced to the beat of handheld drums and small gongs. The procession included participants traveling on motorbikes and on horseback.
At the guardian spirit's shrine, villagers lit incense sticks and offered various types of fruit, food, soft drinks and alcohol while praying for good fortune, adequate rain, prosperity and prevention of disease. The half-day ceremony concluded with the spraying of holy water on the participants.
Chamrouen Ratha, a 26-year-old blacksmith, took the day off from work to join the ceremony honoring ancestral spirits. "The significance of this ceremony is to pray for happiness and prosperity for all the villagers in this area and the participants who have joined this ceremony," Chamrouen Ratha said.
Neak Mao, a 64-year-old villager, brought two horses to the ceremony. "This celebration is to ensure that the traditions of our ancestors are not lost, which they have tried to preserve and we continue to do so every year," Neak Mao said.
Sim Pov, a 30-year-old driver, prayed for enough rainfall with abundant rice production so villagers would enjoy their harvest.