AKP Phnom Penh, April 12, 2025 --

With just a few days remaining until the traditional Khmer New Year, the capital city and provinces across Cambodia are visibly preparing to welcome the festivities with a joyful atmosphere, embodying the spirit of the extended Khmer family.

Observations reveal vibrant decorations adorning streets, parks, and riverbanks in various cities and provinces. Colourful lights twinkle alongside national and religious flags, flowers, and serpent statues representing the Year of the Snake deity. 

These embellishments aim to welcome the New Year angel and attract both national and international tourists travelling to cultural sites, coastal areas, ecotourism destinations, and other attractions, all under the umbrella of peace and happiness.

The Khmer New Year is a traditional festival that fosters a spirit of love and unity among villagers, contributing to national solidarity. During this time, people not only gather within their families but also visit pagodas, which serve as centres for community cohesion. The profound significance of the Khmer New Year has led Cambodians to preserve and celebrate this festival as a national tradition from ancient times to the present day.

Mr. Srey Sopheak, Deputy Governor of Kampong Cham province, stated that Kampong Cham will host a grander three-day Sankranta event from April 14 to 16, 2025. The provincial administration has partnered with the private sector to organise programmes, ranging from welcoming ceremony for the New Year angel to Kun Khmer matches, concerts, traditional Khmer folk games and dances throughout the day and night as well as "One Village, One Product" exhibition, aimed at attracting a larger number of visitors.

Kampong Speu province will also celebrate its Sankranta from April 14 to 16, at the Independence Monument grounds in the provincial city. Activities will include popular folk games, singing competitions, a mega-concert, a Buddha bathing ceremony, a New Year angel welcoming ceremony, and fireworks displays, said Mr. Ros Sok, Director of the Provincial Department of Tourism

Pailin province has also been beautifully adorned for its three-day Sankranta festival. According to H.E. Ms. Ban Sreymom, Governor of Pailin province, the provincial administration plans to organise a grand Pailin Sankranta, which will include religious ceremonies, traditional Khmer folk games, large concerts, and product exhibitions at key locations within the province. These efforts aim to attract significant attention from both local and out-of-province visitors.

The provincial governor further stated that to enhance the festive atmosphere for residents and tourists, the concerned authorities and stakeholders have collaborated to decorate parks, offices, and public areas with aesthetically pleasing lights. Furthermore, all pagodas and tourist sites, such as the Phnom Yat historical and cultural heritage site, the Phnom Khiev or O’ Tavao waterfall natural resort, the provincial Independence Monument grounds, and the Pailin Riverbank, are being prepared with clean and welcoming spaces.

To promote the rich traditions of the people in Battambang province, the provincial administration has prepared art programmes and various folk games to showcase the local customs and potential of Battambang to national and international visitors. This will be achieved through the display of products from all 14 cities and districts, exhibitions of Battambang cuisine such as giant frying-pan, giant oranges, giant durian, etc. as well as "cool-down" zones and water jar areas for people to enjoy water activities while discouraging water splashing and powder smearing on the streets to prevent potential accidents. Additionally, there will be fireworks displays for three nights, along with concerts, Kun Khmer matchs, and colourful light decorations in key locations throughout Battambang city to welcome residents and tourists to capture these beautiful moments.

Banteay Meanchey province will also host a Sankranta event at the Techo Hun Sen Victory Park in Serey Sophorn city to celebrate the Khmer New Year. The provincial administration has issued several guidelines, including instructing authorities to deploy forces for 24/7 security to ensure safety and order during the festivities.

Meanwhile, Phnom Penh, the heart of the Kingdom of Cambodia, will organise the Wat Phnom Sankranta event at the Wat Phnom historical and cultural resort for three days (April 14 to 16) from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The Wat Phnom Sankranta will feature numerous events, including traditional ceremonies and various entertainment activities such as the welcoming of the New Year angel, the procession of Buddha statues, sand mountain building, Buddha bathing, traditional dance performances, folk games, ancient and modern music concerts, lively dances, the display of giant Apsara crown and large harp, and exhibitions of Khmer products.

Furthermore, to enhance the enjoyment and express gratitude to the public for supporting the Walk Street, the Phnom Penh municipal administration will open the pedestrian street for five days, from April 12 to 16, along Sisowath Quay, from the front of the Royal Palace to the Wat Phnom historical and cultural resort.

The Angkor Sankranta event in Siem Reap, themed "Smiles for the New Year Celebration," is expected to attract national and international visitors for a joyful celebration in the spirit of the extended Khmer family. This event aims to bring together youth and the general public to celebrate the traditional Khmer New Year. Moreover, it seeks to revive and showcase the intangible cultural heritage within the tangible heritage site of Angkor, bringing "Angkor to life." Notably, it provides an opportunity for youth, citizens, and national and international tourists to understand and experience the richness and diversity of Khmer culture and civilisation. It also offers a platform for traders, entrepreneurs, businesses, handicrafts, and various services to benefit from the increase in tourist arrivals. 

This year's Angkor Sankranta will feature 38 programmes with approximately 5,000 youth volunteers. The programmes will include the spectacular art performance "The Heartbeat of Angkor," offering a new experience and allowing the public to witness performances within the Angkor Wat Temple complex (south library of Angkor Wat) for three nights, a traditional chess competition, the Love Village Culinary Festival, the Palm Village showcasing giant palm leaf hat (8 metres in diameter) and traditional Khmer houses made from palm trees. There will also be a display of a 1000-metre-long Krama (Khmer scarf), which has broken the world record as the longest Krama. The first thread was woven by Her Majesty the Queen Mother of Cambodia, and the final thread was woven by former Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, in support of the Khmer Krama's inscription on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Furthermore, Angkor Sankranta will feature many new and unique programmes, such as popular folk games, the Angkor Sankranta friendship tug-of-war, and water splashing activities, promising to bring even greater joy to the public and national-international guests.

Besides these major events, other provincial administrations are also strengthening security, order, hygiene, and food services to ensure a better experience. They are also improving infrastructure within their provinces and at tourist resorts and decorating roads and tourist areas with colourful lights to welcome visitors during their Sankranta events.

In 2024, approximately 21.7 million Cambodian citizens and foreign tourists travelled and enjoyed themselves across the country during the Khmer Traditional New Year, including around 110,000 international visitors.

Under the umbrella of peace, Sankranta celebrations are being organised everywhere in the Kingdom of Cambodia, from the national and provincial levels down to cities, districts, communes, and Sangkats, as well as within various ministries, institutions, and educational establishments. 

Article in Khmer by Ban Chandarith

Article in English by K. Rithy Reak