Khmer Culture At Its Best

Starting with the Amok, the Cambodian delicacy, the dance, music, lifestyle and all other aspects of Cambodian life have deep cultural roots. The country’s strong and varied cultural inheritance dates back to many centuries and a major part of it is guided by religious principles, inspired from Hinduism and Buddhism.

These major religions made their impact during the initial period of the Khmer Empire, centuries ago. This was when the Sanskrit language and other cultural nuances from India made their entry, which also includes the way Cambodians fold their hands in greeting. It was not only India but also China and Thailand that proved to be major influences on Cambodia.

Khmer culture strongly defines every aspect of living, such as child birth, death, childhood, marriage, divorce, food, dance, music and literature. It is based on hierarchy and the level of respect a person gets depends on their age; the older they are the higher the status. It is a patriarchal society where the father is the head of the family and one of the most noticeable things about Khmer culture is the fashion of the Cambodian people, which is dependant on the social status and caste of a person.

Cambodians believe in God as well as the spirits. They have several religious ceremonies and rituals in existence. They have a strong belief that childbirth is the time when the spirits can harm the mother and her newborn child; although, it is considered to be a happy occasion. Another belief is that a women turns into an evil spirit if she dies in childbirth. For Cambodians, death is not a time to grieve, as the dead person is said to enjoy a better life after death.

A quintessential flavoring of Khmer food is the strong smelling fish paste used in curries. Fruit is considered a mark of abundance. One of the favorites of the Cambodians is Teuk Tnaot, a liquid from the sugar palms; however, it is not taken with meals. Khmer culture respects guests, and they are served first along with the men.

Their rich music, dance and visual arts have been around ever since the beginning, but they were only given high importance during the Angkor period. One of the most popular music ensembles is the Pinpeat, which uses wind and percussion instruments. The rich melodies from this ensemble are said to flow deep into the heart. Other music categories include the Phleng kar and Mahori as well as the secular entertainment music. The classical dancers use their hands and feet to express different emotions. It was during the 20th century that modern art made its entry.

While the Khmer culture flourished until the–th century; the Khmer rouge era saw the devastation of the culture, but the pieces have long been picked up, and the rich Khmer traditions of science, art, architecture and spirituality again resonate throughout Cambodia, an exotic region located at the crossroads of India and China.

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