Water Festival of Cambodia
Cambodia has so many attractions and activities ongoing almost all year round but in November each year, there is one absolute Everest of festivals, Bon Om Touk or Water Festival, that shuts the town down and opens the rivers to a fabulous spectacle.
Why the Celebration of the Cambodia Water Festival
The heart of the water festival is the celebration of the reversal of the flow of the Tonle Sap river. Celebrated on the Full Moon or what the Khmer refer to as Kadeuk, candles and incense are lit and offerings of flowers, fruits and special food especially the Khmer delicacy, Fish Amok, are made to thank the gods.
The heart of the water festival is the celebration of the reversal of the flow of the Tonle Sap river. Celebrated on the Full Moon or what the Khmer refer to as Kadeuk, candles and incense are lit and offerings of flowers, fruits and special food especially the Khmer delicacy, Fish Amok, are made to thank the gods.
Boat Race of the Cambodia Water Festival
But the event that gets the most attention is the 3 days of boat racing from the Japanese Bridge to just by the Royal Palace.
But the event that gets the most attention is the 3 days of boat racing from the Japanese Bridge to just by the Royal Palace.
With paddlers and oarsmen from every Province joining a team to show their mettle, imagine long narrow open canoe type boats with 72 paddlers stretched down the sides or slightly wider craft with 50 oarsmen kneeling at their locks ready to do battle.
From the balcony of the old Foreign Correspondents Club, where the western journalists gave a final farewell to Pol Pot, foreigners gather with an icy beer to watch the fleet tear down the Tonle Sap.
In front of them hundreds of thousands of Cambodian have picked their favourite boats and are waving coloured scarves as they cheer for their heroes.
From the balcony of the old Foreign Correspondents Club, where the western journalists gave a final farewell to Pol Pot, foreigners gather with an icy beer to watch the fleet tear down the Tonle Sap.
In front of them hundreds of thousands of Cambodian have picked their favourite boats and are waving coloured scarves as they cheer for their heroes.
The sailors are all amateurs but they practice a good part of the year to keep their provincial good name. Famous politicians have their own boats as do several government Ministries and a few of the big corporations so this is warfare on the water.
Day 1, most things go well. Perhaps, one of the last lucky boats flips and the emergency crews come tearing out from the shores as first responders.
By the second day, the lads are getting tired and occasionally some doofus misses his stroke and the chaos of 72 flailing paddles ensues.
Day 1, most things go well. Perhaps, one of the last lucky boats flips and the emergency crews come tearing out from the shores as first responders.
By the second day, the lads are getting tired and occasionally some doofus misses his stroke and the chaos of 72 flailing paddles ensues.
By the third day, the boys are a bit ratty after two nights of serious beer, 3 days of broiling heat and the exhaustion of savage competition. So, this is the day to be watching, Championship Day.
The disciplined crews, of course, wins and the rhythm of their effort leaves the boats looking for all the world like giant millipedes with the perfect harmony of paddles taking the place of little legs.
And so, there will be winners and a number of clashes and increasingly, there are women competitors showing their strength as well and the after glow of the water festival will settle over Phnom Penh as the weary thousands creep back to their villages to recover, repair their boats and dream of next year.
The disciplined crews, of course, wins and the rhythm of their effort leaves the boats looking for all the world like giant millipedes with the perfect harmony of paddles taking the place of little legs.
And so, there will be winners and a number of clashes and increasingly, there are women competitors showing their strength as well and the after glow of the water festival will settle over Phnom Penh as the weary thousands creep back to their villages to recover, repair their boats and dream of next year.
In this picture is the illuminated boats that cruises through the river and with the nightly fireworks give magic to the celebration.
See a video of the last water festival in Cambodia:
Preparations for Cambodia's Water Festival
Preparations for this year's water festival include the building of the viewing stand. Of course, participants have been practicing. In fact, there were some mini boat races in some provinces to practice for the event and hone the skills of the oarsmen.
Preparations for this year's water festival include the building of the viewing stand. Of course, participants have been practicing. In fact, there were some mini boat races in some provinces to practice for the event and hone the skills of the oarsmen.
The Eve of the Cambodia Water Festival
This morning, on the eve of the water festival, Cambodian boats were out in the river practicing their paddling.
In the riverside, the lanterns are ready, each one sponsored by a Government Ministry or the private sector. Some show the map of Cambodia, others show a different aspect of Cambodian culture.
This morning, on the eve of the water festival, Cambodian boats were out in the river practicing their paddling.
In the riverside, the lanterns are ready, each one sponsored by a Government Ministry or the private sector. Some show the map of Cambodia, others show a different aspect of Cambodian culture.
Cambodia Water Festival Concert
The stage is being prepared for the concert. Not just 1 but 9 stages. This one is in the Cambodian-Vietnamese Friendship Wat Botum Park.
The stage is being prepared for the concert. Not just 1 but 9 stages. This one is in the Cambodian-Vietnamese Friendship Wat Botum Park.
Your Guide to the Cambodia Water Festival
Street Closures
The streets will be blocked off from the National Assembly Boulevard to Street 130 just south of Wat Phnom, westward towards the Independence Monument
Food Vendors and Food Carts
Street Closures
The streets will be blocked off from the National Assembly Boulevard to Street 130 just south of Wat Phnom, westward towards the Independence Monument
- Plot out the best route to the riverside and concert stages such as Koh Pich, Wat Botum Park, Freedom Park, Wat Phnom, and Chroy Changva
- Leave your cars and motorbikes and put on your walking shoes as walking is your only way to the festival grounds.
- 259 teams will compete this year including 76 elite teams and 3 female teams
- 14630 paddlers and oarsmen/women
Food Vendors and Food Carts
- Street food vendors will be selling all kinds of food and Stationary food carts in Wat Botum Park will have more options
- Leave valuables at home
- Bring only essentials (only money you need) and hold it securely as pickpockets and snatchers will be surely busy in the crowded streets
- Protect yourself from the sun: sunscreen, hats, umbrellas or your kromas
- Drink water so you don't get dehydrated
See more pictures of the Cambodia Water Festival Boat Race