Phnom Penh Breaks Attendance Records on Khmer New Year Festivities.

The Cambodian capital broke attendance records on Wednesday during the second day of Khmer New Year festivities. The “Nokor Sankranta” festival gathered 1,583,307 Cambodian revelers and 17,940 foreign tourists on April 15, according to Dor Samphors, spokesperson for the Phnom Penh Municipal Administration.

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This day corresponds to Veareak Vanabat, the second traditional day of the New Year, traditionally dedicated to charity and support for disadvantaged people — the poor, homeless, and low-income families — as well as ceremonies honoring ancestors in monasteries.

The festivities took place at several iconic sites in the capital: the historic Wat Phnom site, the cultural village near the night market, Vattanac Park, the former Freedom Park, and the Chaktomuk pedestrian street linking the night market to the Royal Palace. This edition also inaugurated a new site on the tarmac of the former Phnom Penh International Airport.

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No major security incidents were reported. The six-day festival, celebrating the Year of the Horse — Buddhist Era 2569 — is jointly organized by the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC) and the Phnom Penh Municipal Administration, with the aim of preserving Khmer heritage.

The program features traditional Khmer games, classical dance performances, and Angkunh competitions. From the first day, the Troddi dance — a ritual intended to dispel the misfortunes of the past year — had drawn large crowds.

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The event also aims to strengthen national identity among younger generations. Proceeds from various stalls and activities are partly donated to support frontline workers and displaced communities.

The event, which continues until April 19, offers more than 20 cultural, religious, and artistic activities, including sand mountain constructions, Buddha processions, sacred statue bathing ceremonies, and a grand Nokor Sankranta parade.