Vesak, or ‘Buddhist Day,’ as it is more commonly known, is one of the most significant annual celebrations for Buddhists across many regions of the globe. The United Nations acknowledged it as an important religious holiday in 1999.

Some regions of South Asia and Southeast Asia have celebrations for the occasion. Interestingly, not every Buddhist world celebrates this day; some prefer to observe slightly different occasions at slightly different times.

While ‘Vesak’ is a common term for this celebration internationally, nearly every country celebrates it under a different name and with a unique accent. The longer name “Vesak Bochea’ is what most Cambodians use to refer to the holiday.

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There are three distinct Buddhist events that Vesak Bochea honors and commemorates: Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha. Buddhist doctrine states that these three occurrences occurred on the same day (during different years).

Nowadays, the celebration always takes place in April or May, on the full moon of the sixth month of the Buddhist lunar calendar. It was on May 15th, 2022 that Vesak Bochea was celebrated. In 2023, however, it will be held in April 8th.

Surprisingly, the day is jam-packed with exciting events. Most of Cambodia’s state and national holidays are celebrated in and around the country’s many sacred buildings.

Many Buddhists rise before dawn on Vesak Bochea to worship together at temples. The devotees will gather here to worship Buddha with songs of praise, floral offerings, and candlelight.

A miniature statue of the man is sometimes poured with water or tea at temples as a symbolic cleansing ceremony. While some may want to light sky lanterns, others may choose to release them.

Monks in Buddhist temples often recite scripture and teach others about Buddha. These lines exhort Cambodians to follow Buddha’s example of nonviolence and compassion towards all life forms.

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Temples are typically adorned in an understated manner, befitting their spiritual purpose. Buddha sculptures, paintings, drawings, flowers, and other decorations could embellish them.

Preah Reach Trop, a high temple about 25 miles (40km) north of Phnom Penh, is where most Cambodians congregate yearly to celebrate Vesak Bochea. Thousands of worshippers pilgrimage to this mountain top every year in search of sacred artifacts.

In addition to the many rituals and festivities held at temples, acts of charity are also highly valued on this day. On Vesak Bochea, Cambodians will help those less fortunate than themselves by giving them gifts and providing them with assistance if they are elderly, sick, or have physical disabilities.

While others prefer to make monetary donations or dedicate time to helping others by volunteering, both are admirable acts. During these 24 hours, most Buddhists also abstain from eating meat.

As with any celebration, locals try to spend time with their loved ones throughout the festival. Apart from being a religious holiday, Buddhists spend time with their families on Vesak Bochea to show gratitude.

If you’re planning to spend your next holiday in Cambodia, the Vesak Bochea Festival is a must. Plenty of interesting places and friendly tourist areas to see. You can always create your best traveling moments by booking flights, hotels, activities, and attractions at Traveloka!