Cambodia has some of the most enjoyable and fun celebrations and festivals to be a part of. This country has a beautiful and rich culture that gives you a whole new different experience. If you plan to visit Cambodia, maybe pick a time to join the fun celebrations and festivals here. Each festival is unique in its own way, and you will love to see how things are.
Khmer New Year
When: April
Khmer New Year or Sangkranta, is the traditional celebration of the solar new year in Cambodia. This celebration lasts for 3 days, and it usually falls on the 13th or 14th of April. The date depends on the end of the harvesting season. It also marks the beginning of the rainy season as well. What makes Khmer New Year extremely fun is the celebrations of the occasion itself. People would visit their relatives or travel to a different province. There are dancing, traditional games, and many other fun activities that Khmer people do.
Personally, the best place to celebrate Khmer New Year as a tourist is in Siem Reap province. There are exhibitions, performances, and so many food options to try. The best part is the water gun war where many people shoot water at each other. It is incredible because Cambodia’s hottest and driest month is April. The water gun war makes things so much more enjoyable. Strangers enjoy shooting water at each other, and everybody will have so much fun.
At night, the water gun war continues in Pub Street but with a beautiful twist. There is loud music, and it elevates the mood to a whole next level. Icy cold water is extra cold at night, and this kind of fun lasts for the entire 3 days! Things are the same in Phnom Penh, you can stay in the city if you want to avoid a big crowd.
Sea Festival
When: December
Just like the name suggests, the sea festival is celebrated in the coastal provinces by the beach. The festival could be in any of the 4 provinces by the coastlines: Kampot, Kep, Koh Kong, and Sihanoukville. It began in 2011, and it is a sports event that includes many fun activities for participants and tourists. Usually, the Sea Festival has beach volleyball, Cambodian martial arts, half marathon, motorboat racing, and swimming, which starts at dawn until dusk. The event lasts for 3 days in early December, and there are firework displays on each of those nights.
Water Festival
When: November
Water festival (Bon Om Touk), meaning boat racing festival is another fun festival in Cambodia. This festival is also celebrated for 3 days, and the date varies depending on the lunar calendar. On all three days, there will be many race boats coming from across the country to the capital city. The race takes place on the Tonle Sap River, and it starts from morning until evening.
On each day, there will be so many people gathering to watch the boat races and to explore the city. There are usually exhibitions and pop-up stalls that sell clothes, food, and many other things. At night, there are firework displays accompanied by illuminated boat parades for the entire 3 days. The second day of the festival is always on the full moon, and the firework looks extra spectacular.
Interesting Fact: Tonle Sap River is the only river in the world that flows backwards. The festival marks the reversal of the flow, and it also marks the end of the rainy season.
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