New Year celebration in Long Beach, CA. It is customary to build a quincunx of sand hills for the New Year, with a large center hill and four smaller hills at the four corners. The hills are decorated with flowers and flags. People light incense and candles while praying that the new year will bring good luck and good health. They place the lit items in the sand.
New Year celebration in Long Beach, CA. Pictured is a Trot dance troupe. They reenact the story of a young hunter who kills a golden deer that is so beautiful he decides to take it to the King who rewards the hunter by making him chief of a village.
New Year celebration in Long Beach, CA. A large tent has been set up for monks who have gathered from different area temples. The table is set with food offerings brought by attendees. The monks bless the food which brings merit to those who brought it and their ancestors.
Cambodian New Year celebrations in Long Beach include performances of traditional dance and music. This man is dressed to perform with the Chhayam troupe. Chhayam is a lively call and response dance using primarily percussion instruments.
Cambodian New Year celebrations in Long Beach include performances of traditional dance and music. This photo is a close up of a Hanuman mask, the Monkey King of the epic poem, Ramayana (known as Riemke in Khmer). The story tells of the banishment, travels, and return of Prince Rama and his wife Sida. Hanuman gathers all the monkeys to help Prince Rama rescue his wife Sida from Ravana. Originating in India, the Ramayana is now found throughout Southeast Asia.
