Occurring during the full moon of Kardek (November), this festival marks the reversing flow of the Tonle Sap River and the end of the rainy season. It is celebrated with traditional boat racing and illuminated floats. Historical Context of 1987 in Cambodia
2026 aligns with the years 2015, 2009, 1998, 1987, 1981, and 1970
Months alternate between 29 and 30 days based on the moon's phases. The waxing moon (Kaeut) signifies prosperity and growth, while the waning moon (Roch) represents fading light.
Year of the Rabbit - Chinese zodiac commemorative birth certificate
Welcoming the Year of the Rabbit, signaling the end of the harvest and the coming of the monsoons. khmer calendar 1987
Originally derived from Indian astronomical systems, this era is heavily utilized in Khmer astrology ( Hora ) and historical inscriptions. It predates the Gregorian calendar by 78 years. The year 1987 corresponds to . 3. Chula Sakaraj (Lesser Era)
The Khmer calendar is a traditional lunisolar calendar deeply intertwined with Cambodian culture, religious rites, and agricultural cycles. Tracking the year 1987 through the lens of the Khmer calendar offers a fascinating look at how traditional timekeeping intersects with Western solar dating.
The Khmer New Year ( Chaul Chnam Thmey ) marks the end of the harvest season and the start of a new solar year. It usually falls in mid-April.
While the Gregorian year began on January 1, the Khmer lunar year of the Rabbit actually began on January 29, 1987 , and concluded on February 16, 1988 . 2. Major Cultural Milestones in 1987 Occurring during the full moon of Kardek (November),
To help you find or reconstruct specific dates from this period, please let me know if you need to translate a from 1987 into its exact Khmer lunar phase , or if you are looking for the exact dates of a particular 1987 festival . Share public link
Specific marks denoting the four phases of the moon (quarter, full, three-quarter, new) when practicing Buddhists visit pagodas, fast, or observe strict precepts.
To fix the drift between moon phases and the sun, the calendar adds an extra day ( Adhika-veas ) or an entire extra month ( Adhika-meas ) in specific years.
Year of the Rabbit ( Chhnam Thas ). In Khmer tradition, the Rabbit is associated with sensitivity, intuition, and peace. The waxing moon (Kaeut) signifies prosperity and growth,
Most Cambodians in 1987 were subsistence farmers. They relied heavily on the Khmer calendar's predictions of the rainy season to plant their rice crops. A delayed monsoon, tracked through the lunar months, could mean the difference between a successful harvest and food shortages. Why the 1987 Khmer Calendar Matters Today
Occurs in late October or November, celebrating the reversal of the Tonle Sap river's flow and the end of the rainy season.
Last updated: October 2025