Cambodia Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for Vipassana Meditation Center's Dharma Hall in Kampong Chhnang

A groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a dharma hall at a Vipassana meditation center was held in Krang Lvea village, Krang Lvea commune, Samaki Mean Chey district, Kampong Chhnang province, on the morning of Wednesday, July 22, 2026. The ceremony was presided over by H.E. Dr. Hun Many, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Civil Service, and attended by H.E. Chhay Rithisen, Minister of Rural Development and First Vice-Chairman of the Government Working Group for Kampong Chhnang Province, as well as the Chairman of the Government Working Group for T'pul Sre and Samaki Mean Chey districts. The event was graced by the presence of approximately 800 participants, including monks, excellencies, ladies, provincial and district leaders, local authorities, and lay devotees. To commence the proceedings, the presiding officials and devotees performed a ritual offering of incense, candles, flowers, and perfumes to invoke blessings from sacred entities and seek permission from the spirits of the land for the construction of the dharma hall. The presiding officials then proceeded to lay the foundation stone in the designated sacred pit. Offerings were made, and alms were presented to the monks, who then chanted blessings for the occasion. To conclude the ceremony, a Bodhi tree was planted at the prepared site, symbolizing merit and serving as a future place of worship. Source: AKP Khmer