Memorial Ceremony and Merit-Making for the Ancestors of the Wat Svay Andet Lkhon Khol Troupe
On the morning of Wednesday, April 29, 2026, the Lkhon Khol community of Wat Svay Andet, located in Sarika Keo Sangkat, Akreiy Ksat City, Kandal Province, held a memorial ceremony to dedicate merits to their ancestors. The event included the “Sending of the Vessel” (Sampov), marking the conclusion of the annual Sompah Krou (Homage to Teachers) and traditional performance season. Following local tradition, residents invited monks to chant blessings and offered food and other religious offerings.
During the ceremony, elders constructed a ritual vessel out of banana stalks (sometimes called “Songkheuk”), decorating it with offerings such as rice, food, cakes, fruit, betel nuts, white wine, and flowers. After the monks finished their meal, villagers lit incense and candles on the vessel, praying for peace and prosperity. They specifically asked the local guardian spirits (Barami) and ancestors not to hold any grudges against the community for any mistakes or imperfections in the previous nights’ performances. Following the prayers, they poured white wine and scattered popped rice and grains over the vessel while chanting Jayanto and shouting three cheers before carrying the vessel to be floated on the nearby river.
It is noted that after the initial Sompah Krou ceremony on the first day, the Wat Svay Andet troupe performed sacred dances for the spirits in the temple, followed by various episodes of the Reamker for the public. On the final night, they performed the “Kumbhakarna Blocking the Water” episode to pray for rain and seek protection from the guardian spirits. The following morning concluded with the merit-making ceremony for the monks. Notably, Wat Svay Andet Lkhon Khol was inscribed on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on November 28, 2018.
