Wat
Wat Trairatanakrangsay
Wat Trairatanakrangsay is a Khmer Buddhist Wat at the lieu-dit la Forêt in La Séguinière, near Cholet in western France.[1][2] It was founded in 2021 on a former farm, which its founders planned as the first Cambodian Wat in western France.[2]
History
The plan for a Wat took shape around 2016, when Senkosal Meas became president of the Association des Cambodgiens de Nantes. The association found a farm with about one hectare (2.5 acres) of land at La Séguinière, and the deed of sale was signed on April 13, 2021, the day of the Cambodian New Year. A new association of 70 members, Domaine Culture Angkor, was formed to turn the farm into a Wat.[2]
A Buddha image was installed in April 2021, and a monk from Paris came to live at the farm. Two rooms were renovated for monks, a prayer hall was set up that also serves for the monk's meals, and a barn became a meditation space. On November 14, 2021, more than 100 people from the Pays de la Loire and neighboring regions came for Kathina, the robe-offering festival, and five monks received their offerings.[2]
Religious life
On September 29, 2024, more than 200 people from about 80 families of the Cambodian community of western France gathered at the Wat for Pchum Ben, the festival of the dead. Members of Domaine Culture Angkor and the Wat's festival committee decorated the grounds in the colors of the Buddhist flag. In the 15 days before the ceremony, the faithful came to pray and bring gifts of food, clothing and money, which support the resident monk and the work on the site. At that time one monk lived at the Wat, and a temple building was nearing completion. He led the ceremony with a monk from Cambodia who was staying in France for a few weeks.[1]
Associations
Domaine Culture Angkor
(associated organization).[3]
Legal name: DOMAINE CULTURE ANGKOR (D.C.A).
Registration identifiers: SIREN (France): 891 597 767; RNA (France): W442025229.
Formed in 2021 to turn the La Séguinière farm into a Wat; registered at La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, Loire-Atlantique.
Association Des Cambodgiens De Nantes (associated organization).[4]
Its president led the project to found the Wat (2021).
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Courrier de l'Ouest, La Séguinière. La communauté cambodgienne a fêté ses morts (October 5, 2024)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Ouest-France, Insolite. Une pagode cambodgienne tout près de Cholet (November 15, 2021)
- ↑ Courrier de l'Ouest, La Séguinière. La communauté cambodgienne a fêté ses morts (October 5, 2024)
- ↑ Ouest-France, Insolite. Une pagode cambodgienne tout près de Cholet (November 15, 2021)