From Island Center Point in Koh Rong Sanloem to Templation at the gates of Angkor through Phnom Penh, MAADS hotel teams and guests joined in the festivities marking the arrival on this earth of the Tevoda (female deity) of the new year, mounted on the corresponding animal in the Khmer zodiac - for 2026, the chnam momei (ឆ្នាំមមី), Year of the Horse, the 7th year in the cycle of 12.
All across Cambodia, come mid-April, every Khmer family celebrates for three days: first, Moha Sangkrant (មហាសង្រ្កាន្ត), Môha Sângkrant), with ablutions, prayers and altars with incense and offerings to the Tevoda who will visit our planet that night; second, Veareak Vanabat (វារៈវ័នបត), time for charity to the less fortunate and dedications to the ancestors; and the third day, Veareak Laeung Sak (វារៈឡើងស័ក), with bathing of the images of the Buddha and the elders of the family, a symbolic washing away of bad karma.
Everyone can join the traditional village games and dances that are still held in the big city. And this year again, hotel guests and team members happily partook in these festive moments. All wishing for more peace and harmony around the world.
(Main photo and below: at Island Center Point (Koh Rong Sanloem) and Templation (Siem Reap [photos by MAADS]).
New Year decorations evoke the bounties of Nature and Spring renewal. Below, clockwise: at White Mansion, Pavilion, Gaato, Floatation [photos by MAADS].
Phnom Penh, the Little Big City of Southeast Asia, mutated into a vast village during three days of street gathering, dancing, and water splashing to mitigate the April heat. Below, clockwise: Wat Phnom and Walking Riverside, two hotspots of the celebrations [photos by MAADS]; Trot dancers visiting public buildings and the joy of being together in the streets [photos by Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts].
