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| Festivals in Cambodia |
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| Friday, 28 September 2007 | ||||
 Khmer civilization is very old, with a vast culture full of traditions. The main events on the Khmer cultural calendar are a mixture of Buddhist and Royal culture. The most celebrated of these is the Water festival and Khmer New Year but there are many more colorful festivals and celebrations during all the year to experience. In fact, there are a total 0f 28 public holidays a year in Cambodia and most of these are festivals or Royal ceremonies. Water festival (October or November)The water festival celebrates the end of wet season. It is a very old tradition in Cambodia. The heart of this celebration takes place in Phnom Penh. During the water festival, approximately one million people leave the countryside to watch the annual boat races, one of the great contests of Phnom Penh. This festival takes place between the 23rd and 25th of November and is an incredible site but so busy that while Khmer locals come together for the biggest celebration of the year, some expatriates quietly sneak away for a relaxing weekend in the empty countryside. When the water festival and the King's birthday happen at the same date, it results in a truly impressive crowd. Pchum Ben (September)Pchum Ben is the most significant religious celebration in Cambodia. On this day, Cambodians go to pagodas (mainly Wat Phnom in Phnom Penh) and pray for souls of their dead family and friends. Cambodians believe that in the afterlife there are three levels of the underworld that their deceased relatives and ancestors can slowly ascend. Praying for their deceased relative's souls at pagodas like Wat Phnom can help them ascend up through the underworld which is enslaving their souls.King Sihanouk's Birthday Celebration (October 31)This is the birthday celebration of the present kings father Norodom Sihamoni. This three-day celebration mainly takes place in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh where people come together to enjoy festivities.Khmer New Year's Day (Mid April)This is the new year of the ancient Khmer calendar. Indeed it is also the new year in Thailand and Laos and marks the beginning of the rainy season in all of these countries. Nowadays, Cambodians have switched to the western calendar for most purposes but do not celebrate the 1st of January as New Years. Other Holidays and Festivals Royal Ploughing Day (May)Independence Day (November 9)Chinese New Year (January or February)National Day (January 7)International Half Marathon (Late December)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 Vassa - Buddhist Lent (July), and International Human Rights Day (10 December).Views: 784
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