Chapter 2 - Symbolism of the Parade
Once upon a time, a young man named Dhammabal Koma, born to a wealthy father, was renowned for his wisdom and knowledge across the land. Despite mastering the three Vedas and possessing the ability to communicate with all bird species, his exceptional intelligence caught the attention of the jealous King of the Gods, Kabil Moha Prum. The King challenged Dhammabal with a riddle regarding the "happinesses" in the morning, afternoon, and evening, with the stakes being the loser forfeiting their life.
Dhammabal, confident in his abilities, accepted the challenge but found himself nearing the deadline without any answers. Overwhelmed with despair, he considered taking his own life in the forest. However, he overheard a conversation between two vultures where the male vulture shared the three questions from the challenge. The vulture revealed the answers as follows:
morning happiness lies in people's faces as they prepare for a new day
afternoon happiness is felt in their chests as they swim
evening happiness is found at their feet as they wash away the day's toil.
Rejuvenated by these insights, Dhammabal returned to the palace and shared the vultures' responses with the King of the Gods. This revelation allowed him to answer the riddle and ultimately overcome the challenge, showcasing not only his intelligence but also his ability to find wisdom in unexpected places.
Each New Year, a divine angel descends as part of a sacred tradition. Kabil Moha Prum, the King of the Gods, followed this custom by beheading himself after delivering foreboding prophecies. His daughter Tungsa carefully carried his head to Mount Someru, accompanied by a celestial entourage. At the Kuntheakmali Temple in Heaven, a special meeting place was established for yearly gatherings at the mountain. On Cambodian New Year (Sangkran), one of the king's daughters performs a solemn procession around Mount Someru to bestow blessings on the earth before returning her father's head to the heavenly abode.
In 2024, Angel Mohothareak Tevy (Khmer: មហោទរាទេវី) (The Saturday Angel) – also written Mohurea Tevy oder Mohor Thak Ra Tevi – arrives at 10:24 pm of 13 April – Cambodian time, the 2567 BE (Buddhist Era) – the year of the dragon. She is the youngest daughter of Kabil Moha Prum.