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Events and
Festivals
Cambodia has a wealth of traditional and international festivals.
Most of these are a time of great rejoicing for the predominantly
rural populace, many of whom flock to the capital to join in the
celebrations and witness the organized fireworks displays which
accompany the festivals. It is at these times the nation unites with
a shared common understanding of values and traditions and they are
looked forward to with great expectation. Even in times of hardship
people try even harder to make these times special. All the
traditional festivals are influenced by the concepts of Buddhism,
Hinduism and royal cultures. The following are the most important of
the celebrations organized throughout the year.
Water festival (October or November)
This vast festival is probably the most extravagant festival in
the calendar. Over three days starting with the last full moon day
in October or the beginning of November up to a million people from
all walks of life from all over the country flock to the banks of
Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers in Phnom Penh to watch hundreds of
brightly colored boats with over 50 paddlers battle it out for top
honors. The boat racing dates back to ancient times marking the
strengths of the powerful Khmer marine forces during the Khmer
empire. In the evening brightly decorated floats cruise along the
river prior to and complimenting the fireworks displays. there is
often a parallel festival at Angkor Wat and although it is smaller
in scale it is just as impressive due to the backdrop of Angkor Wat.
The festival marks the changing of the flow of the Tonle Sap and
is also seen as thanksgiving to the Mekong River for providing the
country with fertile land and abundant fish. It is at this time when
the river flow reverts to its normal down stream direction. The
remarkable phenomenon that is the Tonle Sap sees the river flowing
upstream during the rainy season and then change direction as the
rains cease and the swollen Tonle Sap Lake empties back into the
Mekong River leaving behind vast quantities of fish.
Pchum Ben (September)
This is the most culturally and religiously significant event of
the year and is celebrated in September. This festival of souls
concentrates on blessing the souls of ancestors, relatives, and
friends who have passed away. All Buddhist temples, especially Wat
Phnom, are the focal points for this festival and most Cambodians
visit the temples to make traditional offerings and pray.
King Sihanouk's Birthday Celebration (October 31)
This celebration revering the country's influential king take
place in late October or early November. People from all over the
country come to the capital to join in celebrations and festivities
held throughout the capital. Often the King's birthday and Water
festivals coincide resulting in a mammoths celebration in front of
the Royal Palace and along the riverfront. Provincial villagers who
would ordinarily have no reason to visit Phnom Penh will save up and
make this occasion their sole visit to the capital.
Khmer New Year's Day (Mid April)
Celebrated at the same time as the Thai New Year all over the
country, this festival marks the turn of the year based on the
ancient Khmer calendar and also marks the end of the harvest done
during the year. Cambodians decorate their homes to please the
Heaven God and many people can be seen on the streets armed with
small bags of water and water pistols to bless people passing by.
This festival is one of the happiest times of the year with joyous
smiling faces everywhere you turn. Cambodians do recognize
International New Year on 1 January but there are no celebrations
then.
Angkor Festival (November or December)
This festival is a showcase of performing arts with Angkor Wat as
a backdrop. Performers from all over Asia attend this festival
performing great epic stories from myths and legends, including the
Ramayana, with their own national dance costumes and musical and
rhythmic inter-pretations. King Sihanouk often attends when he is in
residence in Siem Reap and other dignatories come to witness this
wonderful spectacle.
Royal Ploughing Day (May)
Cambodia has a deep connnection with the Earth and farming, and
there is a deep astrological belief that the Ox has an instrumental
role in determining the fate of the agricultural harvest each year.
Every year, in May, this cultural ceremony takes place in the large
park next to the Royal Palace and in front of the National Museum.
The King plays a key role in driving the Ox and depicting real
ploughing activities in the process of growing rice. The Ox is given
a selection of foods and beverages to consume and the royal
soothsayers interpret what the Ox has eaten. For this festival both
men and women can be seen wearing brightly colored traditional Khmer
costume.
Independence Day (November 9)
This important ceremony takes place at the site of the
Independence Monument at the juntion of Norodom and Sihanouk
Boulevards. This ceremony celebrates Cambodia's gaining of
independence from France in 1953. All over the city flags adorn the
shop fronts and bunting stretched over all the main thoroughfares as
a sign of national pride.
Chinese New Year (January or February)
Due to the large number of people of Chinese descent who run much
of Cambodia's business enterprises; and also Vietnamese immigrant
communities, the Chinese New Year is widely celebrated, especially
in Phnom Penh. No Chinese festival would be complete without
fireworks and this time of year is no exception with many wealthy
families organizing their own private displays whigh light up the
skies for all to see.
National Day (January 7)
One of the more recent additions to the festival calendar, this
day marks the end of the Khmer Rouge Regime. However for many Khmers
it also marks the start of the Vietnamese regime seen as another
period of foreign occupancy.
International Half Marathon (Late December)
This International Half Marathon is held at Angkor Wat and
attracts competitors from all over the world. Thousands of people
come to see this international event held in the spectacular setting
that is Angkor.
Other Holidays and Festivals
Cambodia also celebrates other special days including:
International Women's Day (8 March), International Worker's Day (1
May), Genocide Day (9 May), Vesak Bucha Day - the anniversary of the
birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha (Late May), Ploughing the
Holy Furrow (Late May), Chol Vossa - Buddhist Lent (July), and
International Human Rights Day (10 December). |