Destination Cambodia
Holidays and Festivals
Mid April: Bonn Chaul Chhnam (Khmer New Year)
The New year’s festival spans three days following the end of the harvest season. Khmers clean and decorate their houses with altars for offerings. Then they play traditional games such as Angkunh, Chaol Chhoung, Leak Kansaeng and tug of war.
13–15 May: HM the King’s birthday.
The newly appointed King His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodaom Sihamoni celbrates his birthday with a three day public holiday
May: Bonn Chroat Preah Nongkoal.
The Royal Plowing Ceremony is the inauguration of the planting season. The plowing ceremony is performed by a man. King of Meakh, who leads the yoke and plough, followed by a woman, Queen Me Hour, who sows seeds. After thrice circling the rice field, the procession stops at a chapel where Brahmins invoke the protection of the Gods. The sacred cows are unharnessed and guided to seven silver trays containing rice, corn and other foods. Based on their choice, predictions are made for the coming year.
End of September/early October: Bonn Dacca Ben & Bonn Pchoum Ben.
The Spirits Commemoration Festival is held for the spirits of the dead. Bonn Dak Ben – the offering of food to the monks – lasts for 15 days. The 15 day of the ceremony – the full moon – is called Bonn Phchoum Ben, the collection of the bens (offerings). During this celebration, if departed souls do not find their family making offering at a Wat, it is believed that the soul is cursed and will bother the descendent throughout the year.
October: Bonn Kathen
The 29-day religious festival is marked by town and country folks marching in procession to the Wat where the Monks are waiting to change their old saffron robes for new ones offered during the festival. The ceremony brings spiritual merit to both lay people and the monks.
31 October–1 November: HM the retired King’s birthday.
His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Norodom Sihanouk Varman, the retired King of Cambodia, was born on 31 October 1922 in Phnom Penh. Every year his birthday is celebrated in regal fashion and the entire nation joins in to honour their King.
9 November: Independence day.
Independence day, the date Cambodia achieved independence from France in 1953, is marked by a parade with floats and spectacles highlighting the nation’s achievements.
Early November: Bonn Om Touk
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 and begin flowing northward to the Great Lake. As the water level begins to subside, the current reserves again. The festival draws tens of thousand of people to the river banks to watch longboat races, fireworks and a lighted flotilla of boats under the full moon.
