Festival and Event

Cambodia, a vibrant country rich in culture and tradition, offers a diverse range of festivals and events throughout the year. These celebrations provide opportunities for locals and tourists alike to immerse themselves in the country’s unique heritage, artistic expression, and religious beliefs. Here are some of the key festivals and events that make Cambodia a captivating destination:

Khmer New Year (Chaul Chnam Thmey):
This three-day festival marks the beginning of the Khmer New Year, usually falling in April. It signifies the end of the harvest season and the start of the dry season. During Chaul Chnam Thmey, people pay homage to their ancestors, visit pagodas, and engage in water fights to symbolize purification.
Water Festival (Bon Om Touk):
Held in November, Bon Om Touk is a grand festival celebrating the end of the rainy season and the reversal of the Tonle Sap River’s flow. It takes place in Phnom Penh, where boat races, firework displays, and colorful processions along the riverfront captivate thousands of spectators.
Pchum Ben (Ancestors’ Day):
In September, Cambodians honor their deceased ancestors during Pchum Ben, a two-week-long festival. They visit pagodas, offer food and prayers, and participate in merit-making ceremonies to ensure the well-being of their departed loved ones.
Royal Ploughing Ceremony (Chrot Preah Neang Kal):
This ancient ritual, held in May, marks the beginning of the rice-growing season. Presided over by the King, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony features a procession of ornately decorated oxen and plows, symbolizing the importance of agriculture in Cambodian society.
Cambodian Independence Day:
On November 9th, Cambodia celebrates its independence from French colonial rule, gained in 1953. Official ceremonies, parades, and cultural performances take place throughout the country, showcasing the pride and patriotism of the Cambodian people.

Cambodia’s festivals and events offer an exceptional opportunity to witness the country’s rich cultural heritage and vibrant spirit. Whether it’s the grandeur of Angkor Wat’s temples or the lively atmosphere of Phnom Penh‘s streets, these celebrations captivate all who experience them.

Like many other countries, Cambodia also celebrates on things for their meaningful stories, which may result national public holidays.

Pchum Ben Day or Ancestor Day

Pchum Ben, also known as Ancestor’s Day, is a half-month period (fifteen days: from one Roach to fifteen Roach) of remembrance for dead family members, which traditionally begins between September and October (the tenth month of the Khmer Calendar). Pchum Ben is believed to be a time when the souls of our ancestors that passed away may come back to us. The course of their journey will be decided by their karma and by the offerings made by their living relatives during Pchum Ben.

Visak Bochea

“Visak Bochea Day” is a day to commemorate the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death. It is a day to dedicate to his Dharma principles and adopt them into your everyday lives.

Khmer New Year

Khmer New Year, also known as “Choul Chnam Thmey,” meaning entering the new year, is a national holiday hosted by Cambodians annually. It is the season when Cambodians have free time from harvesting rice and other agricultural commodities. The event is Cambodia’s largest event and lasts three days, on the 13th, 14th, or 15th of April (in a specific year, it could be on the 14th to 16th of April).

Water and Moon Festival (Bon Om Tuk, Bondet Protit, Sam Peah Preah Khae)

The kingdom of Cambodia has a wealth of traditional and cultural festivals dated according to the Cambodian lunar calendar. All these festival are influenced by the concept of Buddhism, Hinduism, and royal cultures. The festivals, which serves as a source of great joy, merriment and Cambodian’s national colors, play a major role in influencing tourists’ opinions, behaviors, and options. Most of these are a time of replacing the predominantly urban and rural populace.

Cambodia Royal Ploughing

In Khmer so-called Preah Reach Pithi Chrot Preah Neangkoal, the Royal Plowing Day is traditionally held in May on the 4th day of the 6th Lunar month’s waning moon. To celebrate the arrival of the rainy season, people gather to eat and pray for a plentiful crop. The centerpiece of this festival day is a ritual in which representatives of our King plow and plant rice at the ceremonial when the rice growth period is upcoming.