Cambodia kickstarts activities to welcome the Angkor Sangkran festival. (Photo: mekongtourism.org) Phnom Penh (VNA) – A marathon and cycling tournament was held in Angkor Archaeological Park, Siem Reap province in northwestern Cambodia, on April 8-9 to welcome the Angkor Sangkran festival which will be celebrated during the country’s upcoming traditional New Year – Chol Chnam Thmay 2023.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, President of the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC) Hun Many said the event aims at welcoming the 32 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32) and the ASEAN Para Games 12 while honouring the country’s rich and diverse art and cultural characteristics.
Cao Manh Duc, General Director of Viettel Cambodia (Metfone) - the festival’s co-organiser - said the event is expected to inspire and encourage Cambodian people to take part in sports as well as create a playground for athletes to prepare for the biggest regional games which Cambodia will be the host for the first time.
This year’s Angkor Sangkran event will feature an exhibition of Cambodian arts in many forms and performances that reflect traditional Khmer culture. The organisers expect that local and international tourists will visit Siem Reap for the holiday in increased numbers over previous years.
The APSARA National Authority (ANA) – a body tasked with managing the Angkor Archaeological Park – is in the process of organising a “cultural heritage village” to the north of the Hal Bridge on the banks of the moat in front of Angkor Wat as part of this year’s holiday celebrations.
The public, local and international tourists will learn more about the country’s tangible heritage, such as the techniques for maintaining and repairing the temples and there will also be demonstrations of intangible heritage on how traditional manuscripts are created.
There will also be pottery, traditional tattoos, a concert by the Tbeng villagers, Khmer folk games as well as an exhibition celebrating the ANA’s achievements of the past 30 years in the conservation and sustainable development that has taken place within the Angkor park.
This year’s celebrations are organised under the theme “Dreams and Hopes” and are scheduled to take place from April 14-16./.
