Celebrate Saṅkrānta in Long Beach
Once again, Saṅkrānta, the New Year’s celebration observed throughout much of Southeast Asia, will be officially celebrated in Long Beach on Saturday, April 6, at Long Beach City College’s Pacific Coast Campus.
For the second straight year, the Saṅkrānta (pronounced San-Kran) celebration–presented by Cambodian American Cultural Center and Long Beach City College; sponsored by Councilwoman Suely Saro, the United Cambodian Community and Cambodia Town–will feature all manner of observations and entertainment.
These will range from Buddhist traditions to a wide-ranging lineup of musical entertainment, including performances by local and international artists, representing the likes of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, areas where Saṅkrānta is celebrated annually.
Attendees to this free event, which takes place from 9AM to 10PM at LBCC Pacific Coast Campus (1305 E Pacific Coast Hwy), can also look forward to traditional dances and for families, there will be activities specifically designed for kids, including traditional new year’s games.
“It’s a New Year’s celebration, so we’re going to celebrate ... This is a way to expose our cultures to the broader community and to do it in a way that appeals to all types of people, as well as all ages.” - Councilwoman Suely Saro
Saro, the first Cambodian American elected to office in Long Beach, said it was important to her and those she partnered with to organize an event that would display the community’s exceptional diversity and inclusivity. To that end, the celebration will include diverse performers and food offerings as well as merchandise vendors, all of it meant to highlight the cultural contributions of so many local communities to Saṅkrānta.
“This is a very inclusive Saṅkrānta, it’s not focused on one ethnicity, but on the many cultures that make up our community,” Saro said. “It’s hard sometimes to talk about racial harmony, sometimes it's better to bring people together in a safe way to see the cultures, to eat something delicious, sing and dance and have fun. Sometimes this is the best way not only to learn but to break down walls.”
