Cambodian people are celebrating the year of the dog from April 14 to 16. People are cleaning and decorating their homes to welcome the new year angel "Tevada Chnam Thmey". This year's 'Tevada' name is Kumera Devi.
Many people, foreign and local are going to Wat Phnom with friends and families to hang out and to play traditional new year games.
Director of the Heritage Office of Culture and Fine Arts Prak Samnang says that since 2003 Phnom Penh governor Keo Chutema decides to hold the New Year celebration at Wat Phnom. It was built in the 15th century.
Prak Samnang says there is also a ceremony of making sand mounts at Wat Phnom. He says this ceremony is usually presided over by the King who often conducts a memorial Buddhist ceremony to commemorate the royal ancestors' spirits who passed away a long time ago.
Today this ceremony is now also held at Buddhist temples around Cambodia.