Note: There was no intercalary month (extra moon) in 1987. The extra month last occurred in 1985 and would next occur in 1988.
The Khmer calendar year 1987 (B.E. 2530 / K.S. 2530) sits within a complex era of Cambodia’s modern history. For anyone interested in calendars, culture, or Cambodian history, this year offers a way to connect timekeeping with social change, traditional festivals, and astronomical cycles that remain meaningful in Khmer life.
The Khmer calendar, known as Sakarach (សករាជ), is a lunisolar calendar used in Cambodia. It determines traditional holidays, Buddhist observance days (Thngai Sil), and astrological events. For the year 1987 in the Gregorian calendar, the corresponding Buddhist Era year was 2530 (beginning around April 13–14, 1987). khmer calendar 1987
Here is a breakdown of key dates, the new year transition, and major holidays for that year.
The most sacred Buddhist holiday—marking the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana (death) of the Buddha. It falls on the full moon of Visak (April–May). In 1987, the day was observed with candlelit processions around pagodas. In Cambodia, the government allowed limited religious gatherings, though under close monitoring. In the West, the day became a powerful symbol of cultural survival. Note: There was no intercalary month (extra moon) in 1987
These are full moon, half moon, and new moon days when devout Buddhists visit pagodas and observe the 8 or 10 precepts. In 1987, key Thngai Sil included:
For the Cambodian people, time is not merely a sequence of seconds on a quartz watch. It is a sacred rhythm dictated by the moon, the sun, and the teachings of the Buddha. The Khmer Calendar 1987 (which corresponds primarily to Culasakkarat 1349 and the Buddhist Era 2530-2531) is more than a grid of days; it is a map of survival, spirituality, and agricultural life. The Khmer calendar year 1987 (B
If you are researching "Khmer calendar 1987", you are likely looking for specific lunar dates, the year of the Fire Rabbit, or the exact conversion of Khmer months to the Gregorian calendar used in the West. This article serves as your definitive guide to understanding the intricacies of that specific year—a period when Cambodia was navigating the complex post-Khmer Rouge recovery and reconnecting with its ancient astrological roots.
Before diving into the specific dates of 1987, it is essential to understand why the Khmer calendar is unique. Unlike the Western Gregorian calendar (solar) or the Islamic calendar (purely lunar), the Khmer calendar is lunisolar.
In 1987, the calendar functioned as it has for centuries, dictating the dates for Kathina robe-offerings, Pchum Ben (Ancestors’ Day), and the traditional New Year Chaul Chnam Thmey.
On the full moon of Asoch (Oct 7, 1987), Lent ends. Then follows a month of Kathina—a robe-offering ceremony. In 1987, communities across Cambodia and the diaspora raised funds to buy new robes for monks. It was a time of joy and generosity.