Honoring of the Parents
Bang Chhat Madaiy

 "Rumleuk kun madaiy oeupuk."
"Remember your obligations to your parents."

"Honor your parents as you do the gods." This common Khmer sentiment is rooted in a Buddhist parable about not forgetting "kun" - a kind act or deed for which one owes repayment (a debt of gratitude). A monk explains to a temple visitor that without parents, one cannot be brought into the world to honor the gods in the first place. 

The traditional song that is performed is a reminder to the bride of the hardships of raising a child. It is a song of parental duty and fulfillment, which the bride and groom will one day experience for themselves. During this ceremony, the bride holds an umbrella over her mother, a gesture that symbolizes the reversal of the protective role of her parents.

 

www.khmerinstitute.org

 
Created by: Sophaktra Heng
Contact: sophaktraheng@gmail.com