Phnom Penh Water Festival
Cambodia’s capital city comes alive with the feel of a Mardi gras
Apr 28, 2009
Cambodia, a country whose recent history is engulfed in human suffering is emerging as a sought after tourist destination. Phnom Penh the capital of Cambodia oozes French colonial charm and remnants are evident in the architecture and cuisine. The city though is entrenched with rich Khmer history and Buddhism and this is put on show each year when two festivals are co joined, the Water Festival and full moon of the Buddhist calendar month of Kadeuk.
Water Festival in Phnom Penh
In November each year for the period of three days, Phnom Penh plays host to the most magnificent carnival in South East Asia, the Water Festival or Bonn Om Toeuk as it is known by Khmers. It is a celebration of the unique phenomenon when the great freshwater lake Tonle Sap reverses its flow. The city is adorned with colourful bunting and the Royal Palace is lit with rainbow coloured lights, the night air is filled with the sight and sound of fireworks. Parks come alive with food stalls and amusement rides and Khmer people travel great distances to be part of this wonderful and significant event.
- More than three hundred boats take part in the annual race on the Mekong River, each propelled by a team of precision driven oarsmen. The boats are colourfully decorated and are a wonderful sight for the many spectators that line the shore.
Full Moon Festival in Cambodia
The full moon of the Buddhist calendar month of Kadeuk is celebrated in conjunction with the Water Festival and holds significant meaning for Khmers. The Khmer people believe that the full moon will bring good luck and a bountiful harvest. On this special night a banquet is prepared and offers such cuisine delicacies as fish amok, fresh vegetables and fruit. A ceremony is performed where the chief priest lights candles and as the hot wax drips on the banana leaves spread beneath the candles, predictions are made about future harvests. Many Khmer people believe that the shape of the melted wax on the banana leaves dictates the state of how bountiful the harvest will be for that year.
Tonle Sap in Cambodia
This lake is the largest fresh water lake in South East Asia; it provides fish and irrigation for most of the population in Cambodia. From mid May to the beginning of October each year during the monsoon season an amazing natural phenomenon occurs, the Tonle Sap swells to three times its normal size and reverses its flow. At the end of October when the lake reduces in size the water flows back the other way as it did before the wet season. This process makes the lake of Tonle Sap the richest source of freshwater fish in the region. The Water Festival is held in Phnom Penh annually in celebration of this amazing, extraordinary, natural phenomenon.
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