Cambodian Water Festival
Cambodian Water Festival
The Water Festival takes place over three days in November all over Cambodia. The biggest celebrations are along the Tonle Sap River in front of Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. This year, 2021, the official activities such as the boat races are still suspended to minimize COVID risk. However, businesses are allowed to have their own events.
The History:
Cambodian Water Festival was first celebrated in the 12th century, around the time of Angkorian King Jayavarman VII. The King’s Navy helped usher in the Cambodian fishing season. The festivities made the gods happy and secured good harvests of rice and fish in the upcoming year.
Another story is that Bon Om Touk was a way for the King to prepare his navy for battle. There are carvings at Bayon Temple, at Banteay Chmear that show naval battles similar to the boat races in present-day celebrations.