Khmer New Year, known as “Chaul Chnam Thmey” (Khmer: ចូលឆ្នាំថ្មី), is Cambodia’s most important holiday. Typically celebrated for three days in mid-April, it marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the traditional Khmer New Year. This vibrant festival is a time of joy, renewal, and cultural pride for Cambodians both in the country and around the world.
In 2025, the Khmer New Year holiday is set for April 14, 15, and 16.
It’s fast becoming an attraction of the global festival circuit, recognised as a unique cultural experience attracting thousands of international visitors to join in the massive celebrations.
Contemporary Celebrations
While traditional activities focus on the three days we’ll cover in the next section, public celebrations run for almost a week. From the smallest villages to the capital, the whole country comes to life, unified in joy and celebration. For international visitors, the most well-known feature is the water-splashing phenomenon that takes over the main streets of every village and city.
It’s a wildly joyous time, a genuinely human experience loved by kids, teens, and even a few middle-agers. It washes away differences, invokes renewal, and is a welcome relief from the April heat.
Every city holds large public family-friendly concerts and the bar streets, like Pub Street in Siem Reap, will be packed with revellers to the point they close off access as the festivities roll on into the night. No matter though as every side street will be buzzing with activity too.
In recent times, a big effort has gone into emphasizing traditional cultural activities and games which has restored their popularity. For those who are not so keen on getting doused in water and baby powder, there is plenty on offer.
In previous years events strongly centred on Siem Reap with the large-scale Angkor Sankranta event and also Wat Phnom Sangkranti in Phnom Penh. All the provincial capitals now hold their own Sankranta events whilst Siem Reap and Phnom Penh remain top destinations for international visitors.
In Siem Reap, the festivities kick off with a Prayer Ceremony for Happiness, followed by a diverse array of events centred around the Royal Gardens area and along the Siem Reap River. Visitors can immerse themselves in Cambodian culture through activities such as the Cultural Heritage Village, traditional Khmer folk games, kite exhibitions, and dance performances. The celebration also features modern entertainment like movies under the starlight and a drone light show. Culinary enthusiasts can explore food exhibition booths, while those seeking relaxation can enjoy leisure boating programs and cool zone refreshing activities.
Phnom Penh’s celebrations, known as Wat Phnom Sangkranti, mirror the festivities in Siem Reap. The capital city’s events focus on Wat Phnom and extend to the Independence Monument, featuring similar cultural activities, including the welcoming of the New Year Goddess, Khmer folk games, and traditional ceremonies. Both locations offer a blend of spiritual, cultural, and entertainment offering a unique opportunity to witness the heritage and vibrancy of Cambodia in a very fun way.
Traditions and Cultural Beliefs
The celebration is steeped in Buddhist tradition and ancient Khmer customs. Throughout the festival, people play traditional games, wear new clothes, and prepare special foods like Kralan (sticky rice grilled in bamboo) and Num Ansom (sticky rice cake).
Each of the three days has a specific meaning and set of rituals:
Day Before New Year
- Final preparations: Cleaning homes, preparing offerings
- Evening: Pre-New Year parties in cities
Day 1: Maha Sankranta
The first day marks the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. Cambodians clean their homes and prepare offerings for the temples. They also build small sand stupas in honor of Buddha.
- Morning:
- Visit to local pagoda for blessings and to give alms to monks
- Building of sand stupas
- Afternoon:
- Traditional games in public spaces
- Family gatherings and feasts
- Evening:
- Concerts and performances in major cities
Day 2: Vana Bat
On the second day, people engage in charitable acts and honor their elders. It’s common to give gifts to parents and grandparents and to participate in merit-making ceremonies at local temples.
- Morning:
- Offering of gifts to elders and monks
- Continuation of sand stupa rituals
- Afternoon:
- Community activities and games
- Special ceremonies for ancestors
- Evening:
- Cultural performances and modern concerts
Day 3: Leung Sakk
The final day focuses on cleansing. Buddha statues are washed with perfumed water, a ritual believed to bring good luck for the new year. Young people may also respectfully pour water on their elders’ hands to receive blessings.
- Morning:
- Buddha statue washing ceremony at pagodas
- Final prayers at sand stupas
- Afternoon:
- Water-throwing and blessing rituals
- Continuation of community games and activities
- Evening:
- Closing ceremonies in major cities
- Final concerts and fireworks displays
Post-New Year
- Many Cambodians use this time for family trips or returns to their hometown
- Some celebrations and events may continue for a few more days, especially in tourist areas
Where to Celebrate Khmer New Year
Khmer New Year is celebrated throughout Cambodia, but some locations offer particularly vibrant and traditional experiences. Exact schedules and events change each year and are published by the provincial authorities usually a week or so before festivities begin. You can find that on Facebook or check the homepage of this website as time nears.
Phnom Penh
The capital city hosts various events and activities, including:
- Royal Palace: Special ceremonies and rituals
- Wat Phnom: Traditional games and performances
- Riverside area: Concerts, food stalls, and fireworks displays
Siem Reap
Home to the famous Angkor Archaeological Park, Siem Reap offers a unique blend of ancient and modern celebrations:
- Siem Reap Sankranta: A large-scale cultural event held at the Royal Gardens and along the river to the Pub Street area.
- Pub Street: Lively nighttime celebrations with music and dancing
Battambang
Known for its well-preserved colonial architecture, Battambang offers a more relaxed celebration:
- Wat Ek Phnom: Traditional ceremonies and games
- Battambang Museum: Cultural exhibitions
Kampot and Kep
These coastal towns offer a mix of traditional celebrations and beach activities:
- Local pagodas: Religious ceremonies and community gatherings
- Beaches: Family picnics and water-based activities
Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri
For a unique experience, these northeastern provinces offer insight into how indigenous communities celebrate the New Year.
Local Communities
For an authentic experience, consider visiting smaller towns and villages where traditional customs are often more pronounced.
The Khmer are not alone in celebrating the new year at this time, many countries in South Asia like Thailand, Bangladesh, parts of southern China, parts of India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka also have celebrations at this time.
Tips for Visitors
It’s an amazing time to be in Cambodia, if for nothing else but to soak up the vibrancy, atmosphere, and uncomplicated expression of pure joy. Some tips are
- Book accommodations well in advance, as this is a peak travel period.
- Unless you want to be central to all the action (crowds and concerts etc.) I suggest booking a hotel outside the central areas
- Respect local customs and dress modestly when visiting religious sites and ceremonial activities.
- Be prepared for, and join in on the water-throwing, everywhere.
- If you are making your way through the water-splashing areas or joining in, keep your phone in a plastic sleeve, don’t carry expensive electronics or items, dress like you are going to the beach and join in on the fun
- Many businesses may be closed during this period, so plan accordingly.
- Traffic can be heavy as many people travel, so allow extra time for journeys.
Connection with Ancient History
Zhao Daguan’s records of KNY
As you probably know, Zhao Daguan was a Chinese diplomat of the Yuan dynasty of China who visited Angkor in 1296 AD, whilst the Khmer Empire was under the rule of King Indravarman III, and left behind the only surviving written record of Cambodia by an outsider. He describes New Year celebrations held inside Angkor Thom with stages built for the people that are lit with lanterns and stupas erected from wood that are topped with fireworks that would light up the sky for miles around. He recorded the festival as lasting for 14 days! (Ref: A Record of Cambodia: The Land and Its People).
Ancient inscriptions mentioning the new year and “Sankranta”
The word Songkran (Sangkran etc), as you’d expect, has its roots in ancient Khmer culture connecting back to ancient Hindu and Buddhist cultures. Songkran originates from the Sanskrit word Sankranti referring to the solar passage and changing of the zodiac. Sankranti is a monthly affair while the marking of the new year was referred to as Maha Sankranti or great Sankranti.
Mentions of Sankranta can be found in several ancient inscriptions and here are some examples
- K. 195 – Phnom Sandak IC VI, p. 247
- K. 256 – Prasat Kok Po – on a doorframe there is an inscription mentioning Sankrantapada which George Coedes considers may be related to Sankranti, and New Year celebrations – dated to 979-1004 AD
- K. 290 – Tep Pranam IC III, p. 231
- K. 291 – Phimeanakas IC III, p. 199
- K. 850 – Phnom Bayang IC I, p. 268
- K. 989 – Prasat Beng IC VII, p. 164
- K.1272 – Prasat Phnom Sruoch – Mentions the provision of rice for the new year (Sankranta). (Chevance, 2014)