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Apart from immersing in the Meak Bochea celebration, exploring Cambodia travel reveals a plethora of unique and captivating festivals. Let's take a glimpse together.
Meak Bochea Festival: A Sacred Day in Buddhism
When Meak Bochea Festival is mentioned, it marks one of Cambodia's most significant days. This celebration is dedicated to honoring the Buddha and his teachings. Every year, devoted Buddhists from across the country gather on this special occasion.
Meak Bochea marks a significant festival.
Travel advice suggests delving into the unique Meak Bochea festival when visiting the neighboring country adjacent to Vietnam. Explore the most exceptional and distinctive cultural values and delve deeper into the roots of Buddhist history in the vibrant Buddhist nation of Cambodia.
Festival Schedule
Meak Bochea Festival takes place on the full moon day of the lunar month, usually in March according to the Cambodian calendar. In the Gregorian calendar, it falls around February. Generally, during this period, the Meak Bochea Buddhist festival is celebrated. If you wish to witness and experience the festival atmosphere, it's advisable to check the schedule beforehand for the most accurate event date.
Many devout Buddhists gather for prayers.
According to gathered information from various sources, the official Meak Bochea festival day is celebrated on the 2nd of February in the Gregorian calendar. As per the holiday announcement in Cambodia, all citizens have the day off to partake in the Meak Bochea festivities, celebrating and honoring the elevated Buddha. If possible, consider traveling here on this significant day.
Festival Details
Meak Bochea Festival is organized based on legendary events and folklore passed down through generations in Cambodia. According to mythology, Meak Bochea is the day when the Buddha predicted and announced the date of his enlightenment and entering Nirvana. This is a saying from the ethnologist Ang Choulean of the Royal University of Fine Arts.
Thus, Meak Bochea festival is considered a significant day for the people of Cambodia. While not as widely celebrated as Vesak, it holds great importance for Buddhist followers, a day of gathering to pursue enlightenment ideals.
Prayers illuminated by light
Meak Bochea festival is usually held in large temples, where devotees gather in the colorful ambiance of Buddhism, meditating and contemplating life's myriad beings. A unique aspect of this festival is when practitioners come together to offer food and participate in candlelight processions at a grand temple during the night.
On the main day of Meak Bochea in 2013, over 2000 Buddhists flocked to Mount Odong to celebrate the Buddha's day. The ceremony, presided over by two high monks, involved chanting and candlelight rituals. Mount Odong was chosen due to its historical significance as the purported burial site of three bones of the Buddha. In 2013, they also discovered a stolen golden urn containing the relics of the Buddha on the summit of Mount Odong.
Hence, the Odong mountain area becomes more sacred than ever as the venue for Cambodia's Meak Bochea festival.
Some other Buddhist festivals
Traditional Khmer New Year
Traditional New Year's Day
In contrast to the Meak Bochea festival, the traditional Khmer New Year is a time when local people rest, tidy up their homes, and perform religious deeds at the temples during the Chaul Chnam Thmey festival. When visiting Cambodia during these days, you'll witness unique water splashing displays on the streets, representing a cultural beauty shared among the Thailand - Cambodia - Laos group of nations.
Buddha's Day – Vesaka Bochea
Vesaka Bochea Day
Following the Meak Bochea festival is Buddha's Day, celebrated on the 17th of March. This day commemorates three significant milestones of the Buddha: birth, enlightenment, and entering Nirvana. According to local beliefs, Buddhists during these days visit temples, offering prayers, and donating food, clothing, and daily essentials to the monks residing in the temples.
Ancestor's Day – Pchum Ben
Ancestor's Day – Pchum Ben is an exceptionally sacred day for the people of Cambodia. On this day, it is believed that they visit at least 7 temples to pray for their departed relatives. Khmer people scatter rice around the temple grounds, believing that the souls of their ancestors will receive it.
Ancestor's Day – Pchum Ben
The Pchum Ben festival is a distinctive celebration alongside Meak Bechea, deeply imbued with the cultural values of the Cambodian people. Attending this festival allows travelers to gain a deeper understanding of Cambodia's traditional culture, witnessing filial piety and respect from the living towards the departed. Notably, children express gratitude to their ancestors, grandparents, parents, and honor their memory.
Here are details about the Meak Bechea festival and other celebrations. Additionally, you can explore some fascinating Cambodia tours.
Posted by: Kong Quoc Khanh
Keywords: Meak Bochea festival and the vibrant festivals of Cambodia
