Phnom Penh Events & Public Holidays
JANUARY
January 1 - The International New Year Day - Public Holiday
January 7 - Prampy Makara Day - Public Holiday
January 29 - Feb 2nd Chinese New Year
MARCH
March 8 - International Women's Day - Public Holiday
APRIL
April 14-16 - Khmer's New Year (Bonn Chaul Chhnam) - Khmer New
Year spans four days after the end of harvest. It's a time of merriment
where Cambodians spring clean their homes, make offerings and play
traditional games such as Boh Angkunh, Chaol Chhoung, Leak
Kansaeng, and tug of war.
MAY
May 1 - International Labor Day - Public Holiday
May 25 - Bonn Chroat Preah Nongkoal - The Royal Ploughing ceremony
or the opening of the Sacred Furrow, is the first of the traditional
agrarian festivals. In times past, on an auspicious day determined by
palace astrologists, the King traced the first furrows in the Capital's
sacred rice field, inaugurating the Ploughing season.
Today, the ritual is performed by a man, King of Meakh, who leads the
yoke and plough, follow by a woman, Queen Me Hour, who sows the
seeds. After circling the rice field three times, the procession stops at
chapel where Brahmins invoke the protection of the Gods.
May 29 - Visak Bochear Day - Public Holiday
JUNE
June1 - International Children's Day - Public Holiday
June18 - Her Majesty Preah Reach Akka-Mohesey Norodom Monineath
Sihanouk Birthday - Public Holiday
OCTOBER
October (1st week) - Bonn Phchoum Ben - Spirits Commemoration
Festival is held for the spirits of the dead, Bon Dak Ben offering of food
to the monks-lasts for the 15 days of the ceremony-the full moon-is
called Bonn Phchum Ben, the collection of the Bens (offerings). During
this celebration, if departed souls did not find their families making
offerings at a pagoda, It is believed that the soul is cursed and will
bother the descendants throughout the year.
October (2nd week) - Bonn Kathen - A religious festival where people
donate clothingto monks. This act is said to bring spiritual merit to
both the monks and the donors. When do they get to wear the clothes?
October 30 - November 1 - Birthday of His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk -
Festivities are held throughout the capital city. A grand fireworks display
is held close to the river banks in front of the Royal Palace ground. -Public
Holiday.
NOVEMBER
November 9 - Independence Day - Cambodia became independent State
in 1953 - Public Holiday
November 10 - 12 - Bonn Ohm Tuk - Phnom Penh's biggest event is a three-
day festival not only marks the reversing of the current in the Tonle Sap
river but ushers in the fishing season as well. The highlight of this event
is the boat race in which more than 200 teams compete over three days
for the top prize. As night falls, fireworks light the sky and a lighted
flotilla of boats sail under the full moon.
With Phnom Penhs population increasing by several hundred thousand, it
is an event itself working your way through the crowd on the riverfront.
Finally if you have to be told maybe you shouldn't go out in big crowds.
Lookout for pickpockets and loose women.
I hope you found this information about public hoildays and events in Phnom Penh useful
