Cambodia solemnly celebrates annual Visak Bochea Day

On Sunday, May 11, 2025, Cambodia celebrated Visak Bochea Day, one of the most important holidays in the Buddhist calendar, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and entry into nirvana of the Buddha.

This solemn occasion is of particular importance to the majority of the Buddhist population and is celebrated throughout the country with various religious and cultural activities.

The grand ceremony of Visak Bochea Day took place in Phnom Preah Reachtroap (Oudong), in the district of Ponhea Leu, Kandal province, where there is a stupa containing relics of the Buddha, in the presence of thousands of Buddhist devotees from all walks of life.

This annual celebration was presided over by H.E. Aphi Santepundit Sar Sokha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, and his wife, with the participation of Samdech Preah Abhisiri Sugandha Mahasangharajah Dhipati Bour Kry, Supreme Patriarch of Dhammayuttikaya of Cambodia, and Samdech Preah Pothivong Kittipundit Noy Chrek, First Deputy Supreme Patriarch of Dhamma Mahanikaya of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Representatives from several foreign embassies in Cambodia were also present on this occasion.

Visak Bochea Day was recognized internationally by the United Nations as an official religious holiday in December 1999, and the first global celebration took place in 2000. In Cambodia, it is a public holiday and an opportunity for Buddhists to reflect on the life and teachings of the Buddha.

Visak Bochea Day is a public holiday in Cambodia, and temples and pagodas across the country were filled with worshippers who brought offerings such as food, flowers, and candles to the monks. The monks chanted songs from Buddhist scriptures and led meditations, emphasizing the Buddha's teachings on compassion, mindfulness, and the path to enlightenment.

In preparation for the day, public and private spaces were meticulously cleaned and decorated with flowers and the Buddhist flag, creating a serene and festive atmosphere. In the evening, many Cambodians participated in candlelit processions around Buddha statues, a traditional practice symbolizing respect and devotion.

The celebration of Visak Bochea Day also reminds Cambodians to meditate on the values of peace, kindness, and moral conduct taught by the Buddha. It is a day that combines solemnity and community harmony, where families and communities come together in quiet celebration and spiritual renewal.