Chhoung Game

Chhoung is a very popular game across the country and people commonly play this game during Khmer New Yeear. The name Chhoung signifies "Kroma" (scarf) that is tightly rolled up into a round shape with a small tail left for holding or throwing among players.

Benefits

Chhoung is an entertaining and gathering game consist of singing and dancing. It trains the mind and body to be active, eyes and hands quick and sharped.

How to Play

Before playing: Players are divided into two teams (according to gender), a male team and a female team. Each team consists of at least 10 to 20 players; stand facing each other in two lines at a distance of approximately 8 or 10 meters. Chhoung can be played in two different ways:

Chhoung Chreang Ram (Sing and Dance)

First of all, the male team throws Chhoung to the female team who stands ready to catch it. If the female side fails to catch and it falls to the ground, it is considered nullified and they start again.

If the female team catches Chhoung, they throw it back to the male team and if the male team catches it, they throw it aiming at any female member whom they like. If they miss, it is considered nullified and they start it again.

If Chhoung hits one of the female member, she must sing and dance to bring Chhoung back to the male team and it is callled "Chreang Ram Chun Chhoung" (Sing and Dance to bring Chhoung Back). The member who holds Chhoung takes the lead, followed by another member dancing and singing, "P'oun chab chhoung ban, chhoung baek chea buon, proleung pros snguon, totuol chhoung tov," and all female memebers join in the chorus "Au na keo, keo pi ar, au na keo euy, er eung eung!"

They will then hand Chhoung to the male team who then throws Chhoung back to the female side.
If the female side catches Chhoung, they will throw it towards the male team and if it hits any member, he has to dance and bring Chhoung back to the female team and sing, "Bong chab Chhoung ban, bong bey tror korng , pror leung meas bong, tor tuol Chhoung tov" and all male
members join in the chorus "Au na keo, keo pi ar, au na keo euy er er euy."
Firstly, the male team starts to sing (the lyrics can be different based on the singers' talent or regions)
"Bong bors chhoung tov, oun euy kom puos chong  doung (repeat), Kror mom chhor chroung , oun euy tor tuol chhoung bong"or "bong bors chhoung tov, chhoung baek chea buon, srey na mean kluon tor tuol chhoung bong"etc.

After singing, the male team shouts "Chhoung euy Choung" and throws Chhoung to hte female side. If any female catches Chhoung to the female side. If any female catches  Chhoung, she throws it towards the man she likes and if Chhoung hits any man, he has to move to female side. If Chhoung does not hit anyone, the male team picks Chhoung up and throws it toward the female side. If Chhoung hits anyone, the member who moved to the female side previously is freed to move back. In contract, if Chhoung does not hit anyone, the man who threw Chhoung  will have to move to the female side.