The festival runs from April 14 to April 16, a time when Khmer people gather at local pagodas and temples to conduct traditional rituals.

Monks ensure that all pagodas are decorated for the Chol Chnam Thmay Festival.

Banners are hung in front of the pagodas.

Each of the Khmer pagodas has prominent displays of flowers and flags.

Building sand dunes to pray for good weather and a bumper harvest is an important rite for Khmer people during their new year festival.

Eight sand dunes are built pointing in eight different directions in the yard in front of the main hall. Another sand dune, placed in the middle, represents the earth. The rite is performed during the three-day festival to align the Khmer lifestyle and the Buddhist philosophy.

Khmer women come together to make several kinds of cakes, including banh tet, a sticky rice cake with pork and green bean filling, and banh it, sticky rice cake with coconut and green bean filling.

People perform traditional dances during the Chol Chhnam Thmay Festival.

A stage is erected for musical performances.

A leader in the Mekong Delta region extends his warmest congratulations to a Khmer Buddhist.

Gifts are sent to poor households as part of the festival.