Gaat Sah - The Cleansing Ceremony

O beautiful lovebirds,       Let us look at your faces Perfect shapes, all aligned.       Teeth as white and bright as ivory.

Before the bride and groom are officially married in the Khmer tradition, they must be properly prepared through an elaborate cleansing ceremony. The traditional singers, representing visiting devada, deities who watch over the mortal realms, dance around the bride and groom. Their songs represent their enchantment with the beauty of the new couple, and the agree to personally cleanse and purify the bride and groom to bring them good fortune, beauty, and grace for the rest of their lives. The devada cut the hair of the coupel and shave the groom, throwing away any excesses and misfortune that may have lingered. The new couple is also perfumed before the visiting devada ascend the realms of Taan Sour, the home of the gods and deceased ancestors.

O, look at the bride,       The gods must have helped prepare you! The gods cut first,       Your parents afterwards Then the achar to finish       It is all good now, and fitting, too.