Cambodian Water Festival 2014

Cambodian Water Festival is a big ceremony among several others celebrated each year for three days from the 14th to the 15th of the waxing moon and the 1st of the waning moon of the month of Kadek (November) in Chaktomuk River in front of the Royal Palace. Traditional boats racing celebrated each day following by Bandet Pratip (illuminated boats) at around 7 pm and fireworks. Ak Ambok Ceremony (eating the pestle new special rice with banana or coconut juice) is celebrated at mid-night of the second day of the festival.

Bon Om Touk (Boat Race) was celebrated since 12th Century in the Angkorian Era of King Jayavarman VII, the greatest king of the Khmer Empire, in order to dedicate to our brave Khmer Navy for the victory of the naval war over the neighboring Chams who invaded Angkor.

Ak Ambok Ceremony (eating the pestle new special rice with banana or coconut juice) and Sampeah Preah Khae Ceremony (Moon Salutation) are conducted in order to dedicate to the Great Buddha who was once born as a Rabbit and offer his flesh as the food to an old Brahman by leaping himself into flames.

Bandet Pratip Ceremony (Illuminated Boats) is to dedicate to the Gods of Water and Earth that have given to the people prosperity and agricultural crops for their living.

The Cambodian Water Festival this year consists of 248 boats and 17,421 crews registered for the race. It is hugely reduced if comparing to the festival in 2010 in which 421 boats attended the race.

Followings are some photos of the festival that I caught on the site.