2025 Spring Festival: Cambodia celebrates Chinese New Year with lion dance performance at Royal Palace
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In Cambodia, people are also excited about the Chinese New Year. The celebrations include a lion dance performance in front of the Royal Palace. Sreypich Mao has more from Phnom Penh. 

SREYPIC MAO Phnom Penh "Cambodia starts the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year celebration, with a lion dance performance in front of the Royal Palace, believing the lion's powerful movements will bring the Kingdom good luck and prosperity.

As you can see behind me, the vibrant dance is about to begin. It starts in the early morning, with folk artists performing in front of Preah Ang Dorngkeu before making their way into the Royal Palace.

The spectacle is held annually to honor His Majesty the King. It's joined by eight lion dance groups and organized by the Federation of Khmer Chinese in Cambodia."

KIM CHHAYHOUT Sinh Yithang Lion Dance Group "We organized the lion dance performance at the Royal Palace to gain happiness and prosperity.

And we have eight representative teams this year. 

Before we perform, we first need to visit the Royal Palace to gain the favor of protective angels and his Majesty the King.

We believe that the angel that watches over us is powerful. 

After we perform, when we then perform at the houses of our Cambodian-Chinese relatives. We wish for a happy and prosperous New Year."

This year, we welcome the Year of the Snake, which is said to represent wisdom, intuition and transformation. Although it's not a public holiday in Cambodia, it's still celebrated in the country. The New Year celebration falls on the twenty ninth of January.

It should be noted the Chinese New Year was recently recognized by UNESCO as one of humanity's intangible cultural heritages. The festival involves different social practices, including prayers for good fortune and family reunions.