Cambodia has a wealth of traditional and international festival 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 accompany the festivals. It is at these times the nation unites with common understanding of value 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 concept of the Hinduism and Royal cultures. The following 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 allow the world thousands of people come to see this international event at the spectacular setting that is Angkor.

Angkor festival (November or December)

This festival is a showcase of performing arts with Angkor Wat as the performers from all over Asia attend this festival performing great epic story, myths and legend, including the Ramayana with their own national dance and musical and rhythmic inter-partitions king Sihanouk often attends where residence in Siem Reap and other dignitaries come to witness this spectacle.

• 01 January International New Year’s Day.

• 02 January Victory Day.

• 08 March International Women’s Day.

• 14-15-16 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 game s 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 Ploughing 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 descendent throughout the year.

• 24 September Constitution-Day & Re-coronation of Preah Bat Norodom Sihanouk.

• 11 October Bonn Kathen

  8 November 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.

• 30-31 October – 01 November

  His Majesty Preah Bat Samdach Preah Norodom Sihanouk’s Birthday. His Majesty Preah Bat Samdach Preah Norodom Sihanouk, king of Cambodia, was born on 31 October 1922 in Phnom Penh.

• 07-08-09 November Water Festival & Moon Festival

  The Water Festival, which ushers in the fishing season and marks the reversing of the current in 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.