The three days of Khmer New Year explained

Khmer New Year is celebrated over three days in mid-April. Each day has its own name, purpose and rituals, blending Buddhist practice with older traditions. Here's what happens on each.

Day 1: Maha Sangkran

Meaning: the arrival of the new year and its guardian angel (tevoda). According to tradition, a different angel looks after the world each year.

What people do:

• Clean and decorate their homes.
• Prepare offerings of food, fruit, flowers and incense to welcome the new angel at a specific time calculated by astrologers.
• Visit pagodas to make offerings and receive blessings.
• Dress in new or their best clothes.

Day 2: Virak Vanabat

Meaning: a day of giving and gratitude.

What people do:

• Give gifts or money to parents, grandparents and elders.
• Donate to the poor, the elderly and those in need.
• Attend ceremonies at pagodas to honour ancestors.
• Build sand stupas in pagoda grounds, a merit-making tradition.

Day 3: Virak Loeung Sak

Meaning: the official start of the new year.

What people do:

• Bathe Buddha statues with scented water, symbolising purification.
• Wash the hands or feet of elders, monks and parents as a sign of respect and to ask for forgiveness for past mistakes.
• Receive blessings in return.

Games and celebrations

Throughout the three days, people play traditional games, dance, share meals and splash water. Pagodas and village grounds are lively, especially in the afternoons.

How visitors can take part

• Watch the ceremonies at a local pagoda.
• Join in games if invited.
• Bring a small gift if visiting a family.
• Dress modestly at pagodas.

Timing

The exact days and times are set each year according to astrology and the calendar. Check the dates for your travel year.

Travel considerations

Many Cambodians travel to their home villages, so transport is busy before and after the holiday, and some businesses in cities close.

Frequently asked questions

Is Khmer New Year always on the same dates?

It usually falls around 13 to 16 April, but the exact days and the time of the new year's arrival are set each year according to the calendar and astrology.

Do all Cambodians celebrate it the same way?

Customs vary between families and regions, and between city and village, but visiting the pagoda, honouring elders and family gatherings are common everywhere.