Tradition: Bonn Phum 2025 village festival, a celebration of Cambodian heritage
- Christophe Gargiulo
- Mar 31
- 2 min read
The Bonn Phum village festival, a lively celebration of Cambodian culture and traditions, is set to captivate audiences once again in 2025.
This year's event promises to be even more spectacular, with the emphasis on preserving and showcasing the country's rich cultural heritage.
The 2025 village festival will take place over two weekends: 5 and 6 April at Chip Mong 271 Mega Mall and 11 and 12 April at the Svay Andet pagoda. Choosing two locations is a first for the festival, which aims to reach a wider audience and showcase the diversity of Khmer arts and culture.
Festival highlights
One of the highlights of the festival will be the preservation and promotion of traditional Khmer games. The well-known game of ‘pot hitting’ will be back, with 112 pots, symbolising the 12th year of the festival. This game, as well as others, will be showcased through an appropriate branding strategy to ensure its relevance and appeal to younger generations.
The festival will feature performances by village theatre groups, including the village of Nippech in Kampong Thom and the traditional theatre of Wat Kien Svay Krao. These performances are essential to the preservation of endangered arts and provide a platform for sharing their heritage with the public.
Contemporary art installations: A remarkable contemporary work of art, ‘Kleeng Chae, Kleeng Chey’, inspired by Khmer kites, will be presented. This installation symbolises hope and reflects modern artistic expressions, combining tradition and innovation.
The 2025 edition of the festival is being organised by PlerngKob, with the support of Cambodia Water Co., Chip Mong Bank, KIZZ, and several media outlets including Kampucheers, VAYO FM Radio, and The Phnom Penh Post.
History
Founded in 2014 by Rithy Lomorpich and his collaborators, the festival has become a cornerstone of cultural renewal, attracting tens of thousands of visitors every year and breathing new life into traditions that were in decline.
Organised in the run-up to the Khmer New Year, Bonn Phum recreates the atmosphere of the old village festivals in the pagodas of Cambodia. Each year, the festival transforms the chosen location using natural materials such as bamboo to host three days of shows, games and cultural activities. Traditional games such as Bas Angkunh (seed throwing) and Leak Kansaeng (scarf hunting) are combined with artistic performances such as Lakhon Khol (masked dance) and shadow theatre.
The festival also incorporates modern elements to attract younger generations. In recent years, Bonn Phum has introduced creative technologies and musical collaborations that blend traditional Khmer sounds with contemporary styles.
Beyond entertainment, Bonn Phum serves as a platform for environmental awareness and community engagement. Its founders seek to instil national pride, emphasising social responsibility and environmental awareness. The festival has even expanded its scope through initiatives such as ‘Bonn Phum on the Move’, which highlights ecotourism and indigenous traditions in provinces such as Mondolkiri.
The organisers expect around 120,000 people to attend the festival. It aims to revive the joy and festive spirit of the Khmer New Year while celebrating the unique arts and traditions that make Cambodia special.
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