Preah Sihanouk marks Vesak, commemorating three events in Buddhist tradition

The Preah Sihanouk provincial administration, monks, civil servants and Buddhist devotees held a Vesak ceremony on the afternoon of May 1, 2026, at វត្តឥន្ទញ្ញាណ, also known as Wat Krom, in Sangkat 3, Sihanoukville. They commemorated three events in Buddhist tradition: the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing away. Provincial council chairman វង្ស ផាណាត, governor Mang Sineth, other leaders, officials, monks and devotees attended. In 1999, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution providing for Vesak observances at UN Headquarters and other UN offices. Buddhists observe the festival annually on the full moon of Visakha; tradition places the three events on the same lunar date in different years. Vesak refers to offerings and commemoration on the full moon of Visakha. In the traditional month sequence counted from មិគសិរ through បុស្ស, មាឃ, ផល្គុន and ចែត្រ to ពិសាខ, Visakha is the sixth month. Buddhists regard the occasion as especially auspicious. The governor said the ceremony respected Buddhist tradition and promoted religious values, referring to Buddhism’s status as the state religion under Cambodia’s Constitution. By Pai Sokhim; photographs: Teav Vichat Photographs of the Vesak ceremony.