Cambodia Eyes UNESCO List for New Year Fest

via Phnom Penh Post, 11 February 2024: Prime Minister Hun Manet has initiated the process to include “Cambodian Songkran” in UNESCO’s list of intangible heritage, following Thailand’s successful registration of its Songkran festival. Emphasizing the shared cultural traditions between Cambodia and Thailand, particularly in the celebration of the Buddhist New Year, Manet called for cooperation and avoidance of conflict between the neighboring countries.

Prime Minister Hun Manet has announced that Cambodia is in the process of applying to register “Cambodian Songkran” on UNESCO’s list of intangible heritage. He called on the people of Cambodia and neighbouring Thailand to avoid unnecessary quarrelling, as UNESCO inscribed Thailand’s Songkran traditional New Year festival two months ago.

Songkran is a Sangskrit-derived term for the traditional New Year of the Buddhist calendar, observed in several Buddhist countries in Asia.

According to Manet, who revealed the application while presiding over the February 8 closing of the labour ministry’s annual meeting, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts is in the process of completing the registration.

He said that although UNESCO has inscribed the traditional Thai New Year celebration, there is no reason why Cambodian cannot apply to have its own added to the list.

Source: ​PM moves to add Songkran to UNESCO heritage listing | Phnom Penh Post