Monday, January 23, 2012

Greeting the Dragon at Wat Phnom

Ushered in the new Year of the Dragon at Wat Phnom in Phnom Penh a couple of hours ago. The crowd seemed a bit bigger than last year. I didn't see any foreigners there besides myself. Like last year, the beggars were conspicuously absent and there seemed to be fewer incense vendors. Like every year the smoke from burning incense was overwhelming and the threat of being burned or set alight by an errant joss stick was constant. Note that many people in the crowds are wearing helmets. It's not because they're all responsible motorcycle riders. It's to protect against burns. The following are a few photos from earlier this evening at Wat Phnom around midnight.

Enter the Dragon: Lunar New Year at Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
A gong rang. People looked. It was midnight (or about 12:04 by my watch.) The Year of the Dragon Enters. The gong stopped. People cheered, then the crowd made a mad rush to escape the smoke filled pavilion. Not sure if it was part of the tradition or just a desperate dash for oxygen.
 
Lunar New Year at Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Arriving at Wat Phnom. Incense smoke rises.

Incense vendor, Lunar New Year at Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Incense vendor.

Crowd, Lunar New Year at Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Overlooking the pavilion madness, a churning mass of people packed sardine tight, covered in a thick cloud of incense smoke. 

Jostling at incense urn, Lunar New Year at Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
At midnight people jostle aggressively to get their personal joss stick in the pagoda incense pot at the most auspicious moment. Afterward they take the joss stick and burn it at home.
 
Crowd, Lunar New Year at Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Pavilion crowd.

Woman. Lunar New Year at Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Offerings

Crowd, Lunar New Year at Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
The crowd on the pavilion.

Lady Penh Shrine at Wat Phnom, Lunar New Year, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Lady Penh Shrine. (Legendary 14th century founder of Wat Phnom. Name sake for the city.)

Smoke. Wat Phnom, Lunar New Year, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Smoke

1 comment:

  1. Great photos, Casey. I look forward to reading more of your posts. I am in Takeo, where New Years was quiet. http://gailincambodia.blogspot.com

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