Cambodia has rich customs and vivid culture; nowhere else is this clearer-cut than during its celebrations. Cambodians gather throughout the year to respect their history, pay tribute to their forebears, and greet fresh starts with great celebrations. Rich in music, dancing, and centuries-old ceremonies, these events give visitors a window into the heart and spirit of the country. One must see Cambodia’s most vibrant celebrations, where celebration and history coexist, to feel the spirit of this country.
Khmer New Year – The Nation’s Grandest Celebration
Celebrated predominantly in Cambodia, Khmer New Year—also known as “Choul Chnam Thmey—marks the end of the harvest season and the start of a fresh year. Held in mid-April, this three-day celebration celebrates community spirit, joy, and rebirth. From providing food to monks at pagodas to friendly water battles in the villages and cities, the streets come alive with music, dance, and laughter as people participate in many customs.
Families gather to tidy their houses and honor their ancestors, hoping a new beginning will bring luck. The custom of public squares and temple ground traditional activities performed during the Khmer New Year are among its most fascinating features. Among these include tug-of-war, “Leak Kanseng,” a game akin to duck-duck-goose, and “Chol Chhoung,” in which players fiercely toss a scarf back and forth. Colored lanterns light streets and temples as darkness falls, and fireworks dazzle the heavens to greet the new year.
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Pchum Ben – The Festival of Ancestors
Unlike the vibrant Khmer New Year scene, Pchum Ben, or Ancestors’ Day, is a spiritual and serious celebration. Celebrated in September or October, this celebration lasts fifteen days and allows Cambodians to pay tribute to their forebears. Families travel to pagodas to pray and eat, thinking their acts feed the spirits of their dead loved ones.
Pchum Ben celebrates unity and thankfulness, even if it is solemn. Golden donations abound in temples, and late into the night, monks chant prayers. Many Cambodians seize this chance to see relatives and share meals and stories about their ancestors. Many people attend temples during the festival’s last days to engage in acts of compassion and giving, supporting the respect and memory ideals that define Cambodian society.
Bon Om Touk – The Electrifying Water Festival
Cambodia celebrates at the annual Water Festival, Bon Om Touk, when the monsoon rains stop, and the Tonle Sap River reverses its flow. Celebrated in November, this celebration marks the conclusion of the rainy season and honors water’s indispensable role in the nation’s spiritual and agricultural existence.
The traditional boat races, especially in Phnom Penh, where hundreds of people assemble along the riverbanks to support long, dragon-headed boats driven by enthusiastic rowers, are the most exciting aspects of Bon Om Touk. Teams nationwide fight in these fierce races, their vivid boats slicing across the water perfectly harmoniously, creating an electric environment. Apart from the races, the celebration is a celebration of mergers with street performances, music, and food booths providing mouthwatering regional cuisine. Fireworks accentuate the magic of this great occasion by lighting the heavens at night and reflecting on the river.
Royal Ploughing Ceremony – A Sacred Agricultural Tradition
Deeply symbolic and spiritual, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony, sometimes known as “Bonn Chroat Preah Nongkoal,” marks the start of the season for growing rice. Celebrated each May, this event is conducted before the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh under the direction of the King or another high-ranking official.
After the event, holy oxen are led in a ceremonial plowing of the fields before food and beverages are offered. The decisions made by the oxen will determine the performance of the forthcoming agricultural season. If they eat rice or maize, it indicates prosperity; their rejection of the food could point to a difficult harvest to come. This custom reflects the close relationship among the people, the land, and their spiritual beliefs. Thus, farmers throughout Cambodia turn to it for direction.
Meak Bochea – A Day of Reflection and Devotion
Celebrated in February, Meak Bochea is one of Cambodia’s most significant Buddhist holidays. It honors the day 1,250 monks came of their will to learn from the Buddha without any invitation. Processions at temples, where followers walk in meditative stillness around holy locations carrying candles, define the holiday.
Meak Bochea is a period for introspection, deeds of compassion, and reaffirming Buddhist values for the Cambodian people. The aroma of incense permeates temples as monks give moral and compassionate lectures. Although this holiday lacks the grandeur of Khmer New Year or Bon Om Touk, its spiritual profundity ranks it among the most important ones on the calendar of Cambodia.
Experiencing Cambodia Through Its Festivals
Celebrated events in Cambodia are windows into the nation’s essence, history, spirituality, and communal spirit rather than merely magnificent events. Every celebration—the joyful anarchy of Khmer New Year, the spiritual seriousness of Pchum Ben, or Bon Om Touk’s thrilling energy—allows visitors to experience Cambodia’s customs fully. By fully immersing themselves in these festivities, guests can gain a greater respect for the nation’s rich legacy and depart with recollections of remarkable events.
Read more: Cambodian Traditions & Customs Every Traveler Should Know