Cambodians not afraid to get wet at fete
PHNOM PENH — Cambodia celebrated the start of the Water Festival, a tradition dating back more than 800 years.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators, mostly from rural areas, flocked to the riverfront in capital Phnom Penh on Wednesday for the annual boat race, which is the centerpiece of the event.
Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, accompanied by Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and other dignitaries, watched the race from a stage erected on the riverbank in front of the royal palace.
A total of 295 dragon boats with 19,017 oarsmen will take part in the three-day regatta, which is held along a 1.7-kilometer stretch of the Tonle Sap River in front of the royal palace, said Bou Chumserey, vicechairman of the boat-racing technical control committee.
“The boat race is to remember the strength of the powerful Khmer marine forces during the ancient Khmer Empire in the late 11th century,” he said.
During the reign of Angkorian King Jayavarman VII, the king used naval forces to fight against the invading Chams and defeated them in 1181.
He said the festival is also to mark the end of annual rainy season and the unique change in the flow of the Tonle Sap River that connects the Tonle Sap lake with the Mekong River.
“It is to express our gratitude to the Mekong River for providing us with fertile land and abundant fish,” he said.
A team leader of a racing boat from Southern Takeo province, Sos Soeun, 46, said his boat has 73 rowers and their participation was to help preserve the tradition for future generations.
“We participate in this national festival every year. It is to show our gratitude to King Jayavarman VII, who used marine forces to defeat the Cham rivals, and the water festival has been celebrated since then,” he said.
The Water Festival, which will last until Friday, is the kingdom’s largest annual festival. Phnom Penh governor Khuong Sreng expected that the festival would attract up to 3 million spectators.
Besides viewing the regatta at daytime, festivalgoers can enjoy the procession of illuminated floats and fireworks as well as nighttime concerts.
“This is our Khmer tradition, and our Khmer kings have celebrated this boat race festival since the ancient times,” said spectator Ho Khema, 20.
Khema said she had never lost her excitement in watching the boat race, although she had seen it almost every year.
“There are a lot of people and boats taking part in the festival. It’s really happy,” she said.