Celebrate The Khmer New Year With The Annual Water Festival In Phnom Penh

Due to take place from the 27th to the 29th of November

, 2012 this year's Water Festival is set to take the Cambodian capital by storm once more. Marking the end of the Khmer New Year celebrations this three day melee is an annual event that is highly anticipated by Cambodians and tourists alike as the sheer volume of people heading to the capital have indicated throughout the years.

Harking in the official fishing season the Water Festival locally known as Bonn Om Toeuk also coincides with and marks the current reversal of the Tonal Sap River. This unique occurrence is a natural phenomenon unknown to any other part of the world when a river flows at opposing directions at various times of the year. The event also coincides with the month known as Kadeuk in the Buddhist calendar when the full moon looks over the entire nation. Various sweetmeats and fish amok is prepared in abundance as offerings to the moon during the full moon day as local priests light candles and announces predictions regarding the harvest of the coming year.

The Water Festival is often compared to Mardi Gras celebrations due to the atmosphere of revelry and merrymaking that prevails during the festive season. Public buildings are adorned with colorful decorations and banners while the royal palace is also lit up especially for the occasion. Live music concerts are a popular feature of the festival where food stalls selling local specialties also prop up in every corner of the capital. Fairground rides such as ferris wheels and other attractions are assembled in public parks as the young and young and heart join in the festivities. Fireworks displays also light up the night sky on the three days of the Water Festival while boats travelling up and down the river also feature bright light displays with traditional motifs on festival nights.

The boat race down the Tonal Sap River is another must-see attraction for visitors as it is a visual spectacle akin to the dragon boat races in China. A whopping 400 boats or more take part in the annual contest which sees experienced oarsmen show off their well-honed skills in front of millions of spectators.

Travellers in search of a stylish Phnom Penh hotel will find no finer alternative to the decidedly chic Raffles Hotel Le Royal. Offering guests a luxurious rest this five star hotel in Phnom Penh pulls out all the stops when it comes to vacationing in style.

by: Nelson

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