"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened.
Happiness never decreases by being shared."
"Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life." Lord Buddha
A glimpse through photos of our Buong Suongs where dancers and musicians are totally immersed and invested spiritually in their propitiation rites calling the Gods, Divinities and Spirits to bless the land and for the Meak Bocchea with 1250 candles in commemorating that amount of disciples who came to the last preaching of Lord Buddha to spread it around the world.
On the Thursday 9th April 2015, for four hours, the Sacred Dancers of Angkor troupe dedicated the devotional ceremony of the Sampeah Krou Thom as the most important step of their life as professional dancers receiving their empowered crowns and masks, witnessed and blessed by the highest Royal, Dance and Past Masters Spirits. The Krong Pealy ritual invokes the Giant Krong Pealy, the creator of the Universe, for his blessing and protection, it is accompanied by 13 traditional music pieces, followed by the Sampeah Krou Thom, "The Grand Invocation" of all the Spirits of Past Kings and their Masters with the traditional offerings of Baseis and complete variety of fruits and food, and the dedication of the series of 33 classical traditional music pieces to protect, bless and guide dancers and musicians to perfect and successful trainings and performances in a peaceful, happy and harmonious bonding.
After the devotional ceremony of the Sampeah Krou Thom, the Sacred Dancers of Angkor dedicated for the first time, the Reamker in full costumes with their empowered crowns and masks. The costumes and adornments are innovated and simplified by Ravynn to fit the humble profile of the artists, respecting the shapes with the hint of the traditional colours of each characters, the crowns and masks are made by the artists themselves in full mediation with continuons incense burning.
Tum Teav is the most famous tragedy, originally based on the poem written by the Venerable Botumthera Som from a 17th/18th century real story. The Khmer version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet which has been a compulsory part of the Cambodian secondary national curriculum since the 1950s.
"This sin of love! The blood wash in tears!
True love! Life sacrific in braveness against old odds
The uncomparable enormous power it accomplish
Thus, the wealth or nobility or honor still become the loser"