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February 14, 2017

Cambodian Chinese festival

Hei Neak Ta means "the parade of the spirits" and marks the end of the Chinese New Year. In Cambodia, the Chinese community holds a three-day festival where people become spirit mediums and channel ghosts of good fortune and mischief. 

Hundreds of devotees pack a small side street near Phnom Penh's O'Russy market to see the parade and gain a blessing from the spirits.

The festival is held on the 15th day of the lunar calendar, which in 2017 was celebrated Feb. 10-13. The mediums bless devotees with water, stamps and even their own blood. Some of the mediums cut their tongues and lick spirit money, handing out the gory blessings to people clamoring for good luck. According to locals, their tongues heal miraculously quickly.

(Photos and text by Photo by Nathan A. Thompson)

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UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia