The festival lasts three days, starting on the 13th or 14th of April, aligning with the Theravada Buddhist lunar calendar. Each day has a unique focus, as Cambodians usher in the new year:
Day 1- Moha Songkran: This is the day of blessing. Most people must prepare a table full of fruits, drinks, flowers and other items as offerings to the new angel. An interesting fact is that the Khmer people believe there are 7 angels who rotate year to year, with each angel having a preferred food. On Moha Songkran, there is also a ritual washing through the course of the day which signifies purification and luck.
Day 2- Veareak Vanabat: This is the day of donating and gratitude. Most people donate gifts to the elders of the family, which includes parents and grandparents, or perform acts of charity.
Day 3- Vearak Leung Sak: This day is about bidding farewell to the year gone by and welcoming the New Year, with new hopes. People may cleanse Buddha status, symbolising the removal of evil, or wash elders’ hands and feet to show gratitude. This is also a day of celebration, with families and communities gathering to welcome the new year.
