A consecration ceremony for a Preah Ko Preah Keo statue was recently held in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province. Men Sam An, Vice President of the Cambodian People’s Party and a senior adviser to the King, attended and presided over the ceremony. The provincial governor, provincial officials, military and police personnel, teachers, students and local residents also took part.
The ceremony aimed to promote traditional Khmer culture and protect and pass on Cambodia’s historical and cultural heritage. Local authorities hope that public landscapes featuring traditional culture will help more people learn about Khmer history and strengthen the younger generation’s sense of cultural identity.
According to the Oddar Meanchey provincial administration, the province has recently continued developing public cultural facilities under Governor Mean Chanyada. The Preah Ko Preah Keo statue project is a new addition to these efforts. Located in the provincial capital, Samraong, the statue is also set to become a new landmark showcasing traditional Khmer culture.
The province had already held a procession and installation ceremony for the statue on October 20. It was installed at the site previously occupied by a statue of Vishnu riding Garuda. The earlier statue was subsequently relocated back to Siem Reap province.
Preah Ko Preah Keo is a widely known Khmer folk legend in Cambodia, embodying people’s hopes for wealth, wisdom, abundance and national prosperity. The treasures in the legend are closely tied to the rise and fall of the Khmer kingdom, and reflect the hopes of people in earlier times for a flourishing country, national independence and cultural continuity.
Local authorities hope that, with the statue completed, Samraong will further enrich its public cultural spaces and offer a new attraction for cultural tourism in Oddar Meanchey province.