Celebrating the turn of the year (according to ancient Khmer calendar) and the end of the harvest season, this three day festival is one of the main events of the year. All over the country the decorated Wats (temples) are extremely busy and the streets are filled with happy people singing, dancing and playing traditional games.

Celebrating the turn of the year (according to ancient Khmer calendar) and the end of the harvest season, this three day festival is one of the main events of the year. All over the country the decorated Wats (temples) are extremely busy and the streets are filled with happy people singing, dancing and playing traditional games.

Cambodians believe that the souls of living creatures are reincarnated when they die. However, some souls will be trapped in the spirit world due to bad karma in their life. Pchum Ben or the Festival of the Dead is a period of fifteen days when souls are released so that they can search for their living relatives. The living offer these souls food, meditation and prayer, in order to reduce their bad karma and to enable them to be reincarnated.

Cambodians believe that the souls of living creatures are reincarnated when they die. However, some souls will be trapped in the spirit world due to bad karma in their life. Pchum Ben or the Festival of the Dead is a period of fifteen days when souls are released so that they can search for their living relatives. The living offer these souls food, meditation and prayer, in order to reduce their bad karma and to enable them to be reincarnated.

Beginning from the last full moon of October/early November, the population of Phnom Penh is doubled. People all over the country come to the capital to celebrate the three day Water Festival. This festival marks the change of the flow of the Tonle Sap river. During this time the Tonle Sap begins to flow back towards the sea. This event is celebrated with a boat race on the river and with impressive fireworks.

Beginning from the last full moon of October/early November, the population of Phnom Penh is doubled. People all over the country come to the capital to celebrate the three day Water Festival. This festival marks the change of the flow of the Tonle Sap river. During this time the Tonle Sap begins to flow back towards the sea. This event is celebrated with a boat race on the river and with impressive fireworks.