The Khmer Buddhist Calendar is more than a collection of dates. For Khmer Buddhists, it reflects a year of faith, tradition, remembrance and community.

Throughout the year, Buddhist holy days, traditional ceremonies and Khmer cultural festivals provide moments for us to visit the temple, make merit, remember our ancestors, listen to the Buddha’s teachings and come together as a community.

Many of these observances follow the traditional Buddhist lunar calendar, which means their dates change from year to year.

For Khmer Australians, these occasions have another important role. They help connect the traditions of Cambodia with the lives we are building here in Australia.

For younger generations especially, understanding why we celebrate these days can turn a date on the calendar into something much more meaningful — a connection to our faith, our families and our heritage.