Water Festival or Bon Om Touk is one of the biggest festival in Cambodia. The festival is often celebrated in the month of November, every year. They celebrate 3 days and each day, there is the boat racing.
During these three days, Phnom Penh citizens, peasants from provinces, and even foreign tourist come to gather in the capital. The celebration is always held in front of the royal palace. At night, people are gathering in front of royal palace to see the firework as well as to join the concert and crowd.
This festival is also called The Pirogue Racing Festival due to the fact that the whole 3 day of the celebration.
History of Water Festival
The celebration of Water Festival is a sign of the end of rainy seasons which is normally from May to October. Also, the festival is a time to thank to the rivers as it bring good soil along with water during the season. This soil presents a fertile for the farming land.
For the racing during the festival, its root is about the training of the army during Angkor era. The training of the army is to prepare for the war by sailing. The Angkorian king, Preah Bat Jayavarman VII, celebrates this water festival every year in order to choose a sailing champion for the battle. Normally, the celebration is held in Bayon template, and Banteay Chhmar. Another root is to honor the victory of Khmer Empire in the sailing battle that push the enemies back to their land.
Celebration of Water Festival
The water festival is not just about regatta, but there are also other three ceremonies: Bandaet Pratip (Illuminated float), Ak Ambok (the eating of pestle new special rice with banana or coconut juice), and Sampeah Preah Khae (Moon salutation).
Bandaet Pratip is done the whole three days at night. It starts at about seven o'clock. People also gather to see this very colorful and attractive floating boat. The decoration is made differently from one to another. Different state institutions or ministries give different fancy patterns on the boat. We can see each boat equipped with many flashy neon lights.
Ak Ambok and Sampeah Preah Khae are celebrated at full-moon night. People bring pestle new special rice with banana or coconut juice putting on a table to salute to the moon.
The third day of the festival, is the day to find the winner of the racing. The racing is participated by both male and female. The winner will receive good award including drink, money, clothes, rice, cigarettes ...etc.
Water Festival, Site of Stampede
On 22 November 2010, there was a tragedy occurred. The tragedy took 347 Cambodia people lives and another 755 were injured. This is caused by having too many people on the bridge.
