Wat Khmer Savy Rattanaram

Sharing a beautiful moment from Khmer New Year 2025 🇰🇭
Khmer dance in its pure form—grace, tradition, and storytelling.

Thank you to the dancers for keeping this tradition alive 🙏

Beyond Visuals Khmer Dance | Khmer New Year 2025 | SouthEast Roots

We are excited to share with you our Cambodian New Year celebrations from this past weekend’s ceremony! As a community, we came together, and now we invite you to relive those special moments—watch the video and celebrate with us!

SouthEastRoots Khmer New Year 2026 | Wat Khmer Savy Rattanaram - Jacksonville, Florida | SouthEastRoots Archive

Proof that you never really outgrow having fun.

The Jacksonville Cambodian Buddhist Society warmly invites you, your family, and friends to join us in celebrating the Khmer New Year! 🎉

Come experience a beautiful weekend filled with tradition, blessings, culture, and community.

📍 Location: 4540 Clinton Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32207

🗓 Schedule of Events:

Friday, April 17 (Evening)
• 7:00 PM – Paying respect to the Triple Gem, Five Precepts, chanting, and Dhamma sermon

Saturday, April 18
• 7:00 AM – Offering breakfast to monks
• 9:30 AM – Blessing ceremony & alms offering
• 10:30 AM – Offering lunch to monks
• 12:00 PM – Food for all attendees
• 12:00 PM – 10:30 PM – 🎶 Celebration begins!

* Music by DJ KhmerRican
* Traditional games (3PM–5PM)
* Pho Eating Contest (5PM) 🍜
* Karaoke (6PM–8PM) 🎤
* Special performance by Sam Taing-Brinkley (8PM)
* Rom Vong dancing & music (8PM–10:30PM) 💃
* Raffles, prizes, food & merchandise vendors!

Sunday, April 19
• 7:00 AM – Offering breakfast to monks
• 9:30 AM – Blessing ceremony & alms offering
• 10:30 AM – Offering lunch to monks
• 11:45 AM – Community lunch
• 1:00 PM – Sand mound ceremony & water blessing for monks and elders 💧

✨ May this New Year bring you peace, happiness, and prosperity.
We look forward to celebrating together and sharing blessings with our community.

🙏 All are welcome!



Pchum Ben, also known as “Ancestor’s Day,” is one of the most sacred festivals in Cambodia. It is a 15-day observance, culminating on the final day when families gather to honor their ancestors up to seven generations past. Rooted in Buddhist tradition, it is a time to reflect on impermanence, practice gratitude, and remember the deep bond between the living and those who came before. The festival beautifully illustrates the Cambodian values of family, reverence, and compassion.

During Pchum Ben, pagodas across the country fill with offerings of food, flowers, incense, and candles. Families bring rice, fruits, and traditional dishes to monks, who chant prayers and transfer merit to the departed. It is believed that during this time, the gates of the spirit world open, and hungry spirits (known as preta) may wander the earth in search of nourishment. Through offerings and prayers, people not only honor their lineage but also cultivate generosity and kindness.

In modern Cambodian society, Pchum Ben is more than a religious ritua, it is a cultural anchor that strengthens community bonds. Even those living abroad often send support to family members at home to ensure offerings are made. The festival also serves as a reminder of shared resilience, as generations come together to celebrate continuity and to honor those who endured hardship before them. It is both solemn and unifying, weaving together spirituality, culture, and family ties.

To observe Pchum Ben respectfully, you can participate by making offerings at a local temple, spending time in meditation, or simply reflecting on your ancestors with gratitude. For those outside Cambodia, lighting incense or preparing a family meal in memory of loved ones can be a meaningful way to connect with the spirit of the festival. Most importantly, it is a time to cultivate generosity and extend kindness to both the living and the departed.

Sathu. Sathu. Sathu.

Buddham Saranam Gacchami

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Vladimir warmly and skillfully passes on the Buddhas Dharma to a world in need of loving-kindness, compassion, and empathy for the benefit of all living beings.

To learn more about us and for free mindfulness and mediation resources visit: www.bluelotusmeditation.us

Looking for a way to help guide others? Become a Blue Lotus Aspirant here: https://bluelotusmeditation.us/continue-your-journey

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Blue Lotus Meditation and Mindfulness Center is a 501(c)(3) Buddhist society.

Got a chance to capture a cultural dance by these talented young ladies at Wat Khmer Savy Rattanaram #khmercultureontheroad #khmernewyear2025

We are so excited to welcome you and your families to celebrate Khmer New Year 2025 with us this April!

As we prepare for this joyful occasion, we invite everyone to join in the blessings, traditions, and community spirit that make this celebration so special.

Attached below, you’ll find all the information you need about the upcoming festivities.

May this New Year bring happiness, health, and harmony to you and your loved ones.

អរុណសួស្តីឆ្នាំថ្មី!
Happy New Year from all of us at the Wat! 🎊✨

**A Heartfelt Thank You for Visiting Our Wat**

Last week, we had the absolute joy of welcoming a wonderful group of students and teachers to our temple as they explored Cambodia for their class project. It was truly an honor to share stories about our home country, our traditions, and the beauty of Buddhism.

The curiosity, kindness, and thoughtful questions they brought with them made the experience all the more special. Moments like these remind us why we open our doors—to connect, to learn from one another, and to share the blessings of wisdom and culture.

We hope they enjoyed their time with us as much as we did! Our temple is always open to those who seek to learn, reflect, or simply experience a moment of peace. May all be happy, healthy, and blessed.

🙏✨