It seems that every six years I have the honor of being with the Cambodian and Lao communities in the Modesto area when they celebrate their New Year's celebrations.

There was a Cambodian Buddhist temple down the street from me, and I would attend some of their festivals.

I moved away in 2001, came back in 2007 and in 2013 to experience their new year celebrations. At first I would be with the traditional dancers and the musicians. Later with the vendors and the monks.



This collection of photographs was taken during the Lao & Cambodian New Year Celebrations in the Central Valley of California. I spent day three, known as Sangkhan Kheun, with the Lao community as they arrive at Wat Lao Buddharangsy dressed in traditional clothes, carrying containers of the traditional food from their home country of Laos.