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Festivals & Events
Cambodia has a wealth of traditional and international festivals. Most of time of great rejoicing for the predominantly rural populace, many of whole capital to join in the celebrations and witness the organized fire-work which accompanies the festival. It is at these times the nation unites with common understanding of values and traditions, and they are looked forward great expectation. Even in times of hardship people try even harder to manage times special. All the traditional festivals are influenced by the concepts of the Hinduism and royal cultures. The f
ollowing are the most important of the ceremony organized throughout the year.
International Half Marathon (late December)
This international half Marathon is held at Angkor Wat and attracts competition all over the world. Thousands of people come to see this international event and the spectacular setting that is Angkor Wat.
Angkor Festival (November or December)
This festival is a showcase of performing arts with Angkor wat as the performers from over Asia attend this festival performing great epic story, myths and legends, including the Ramayana, with their own national dance, musical and rhythmic inter-predations. King Sihanouk often attends where residence in Siem Reap and other dignitaries come to witness this spectacle.
01 January International New Year’s Day
07 January Victory Day
08 March International Women’s Day
14-16 April Bonn Chaul Chhnam
The New Year’s Festival spans three days following the end of the harvest season. People clean and decorate their houses with altars of offerings. Then people play traditional games such as Bos Angkunh, Chol Chhoung, Leak Kanseng, and Tug-of-War.
01 May International Labor Day
15 May Bonn Visaka Bochea
19 May Bonn Chroat Preah Nongkoal
The Royal Plowing Ceremony is the inauguration of the planting season. The plowing is performed by a man, King, who leads the yoke and plough, followed by a woman, the Queen, who sows seeds.
01 June International Children’s Day
18 June Samdech Preah Mohesey Norodom Monineath Sihanouk’s Birthday
11-25 September Bonn Dak Ben & Bonn Phchom Ben
The Spirits Commemoration Festival is held for the spirits of the dead. For Bonn Dak Ben, food is offered to monks for 15 days. On the 15th day of the ceremony, the full moon is called Bonn Phchom Ben, the collection of the Bens (offerings). During this celebration, if departed souls do not find their family making offerings at a pagoda, it is believed that the soul will curse and bother the descendents throughout the whole year.
24 Sepember Constitution Day and Recoronation of H.M. Preaah Bat Smdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk.
11 Oct-8 November Bonn Kathen
The 29-day religious festival is marked when town and countryside folks march in procession to the pagoda where the monks are waiting to change their old saffron robes for new ones during the festival. The ceremony brings spiritual merit to both lay people and the monks.
23 October Paris Peace Agreement on Cambodia
30 Oct-01 November His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk’s Birthday.
His Majesty Preah Bat Samdach Preah Norodom Sihanouk, king of Cambodia, was born on 31 October 1922 in Phnom Penh.
07-09 November Water Festival, Full Moon Festival
The Water Festival, which ushers in the fishing season and marks the reversing of the current in the Tonle Sap River, is a spectacle to behold. At the height of the rainy season, the water in the Mekong River flows with such power that it backs up into the Tonle Sap River, forcing the Tonle Sap to reverse its current when it subsides, the current reverses again. The festival draws thousands of people to the riverbanks to watch long boat races, fireworks and a lighted flotilla of boats under the full moon.
09 November Independence Day
The date, which Cambodia achieved independence from France in 1953, is marked by a parade with floats and spectacles highlighting the nation’s achievements.
10 December United Nations Human Rights Day