PHNOM PENH: The Royal Water Festival is held every year in the Kingdom of Cambodia for three days, in late October or November. It often corresponds with the lunar Mid-Autumn Festival and marks the end of the monsoon season.
This festival is popular across the country and is celebrated every year with dragon boat races for men and women, floating lanterns, and prayers to the moon, reflecting strong religious beliefs. Those propelling boats in the race often do so to bring glory to their home province.
The Water Festival has been held since ancient times under the reign of Jayavarman VII to commemorate the heroic example of the Khmer navy, which liberated its territory from the oppression of the Champa.
Stone relief carvings can be found on the walls of ancient Khmer temples showing people’s everyday lives alongside traditions, religion, arts, sports, and wars. The Battle of the Tonle Sap is depicted on the walls of the Bayon Temple in impressive stone reliefs. The sculptures remind the current generation of Cambodians about the merits of their ancestors who liberated the land from enemy control.
The Water Festival also features floating lantern celebrations dedicated to the river goddess Ganges and the earth, which provides joy, agricultural blessings, and daily livelihood. Each ministry is decorated with colorful light displays and a fireworks display takes place by the riverside.
Sampeas Preah Khe refers to the moon salutations where Cambodians ask for plentiful harvests. People assemble at the pagodas just before midnight to eat Ambok, a traditional Cambodian rice dish consisting of rice fried in its husk, whichis then pounded with a pestle and mixed with banana and coconut. “Auk Ambok" means a gathering with your family to eat the dish and salute the moon during the ceremony.
In Cambodia, a full moon is said to be a good omen for the upcoming harvest, so they gather during the Water Festival to thank and make wishes to the moon for a fruitful rice harvest in the months to come. Based on the myth, it also refers to the reincarnation of the Buddha as white rabbit. As the tale goes, a farmer found the white rabbit and wished to eat it. The white rabbit agreed on the condition that the farmer provide the harvest as offering once every year. As a result, people say they see the shadow of the white rabbit in the moon.
Offerings for Auk Ambok include ambok, banana, coconut, potato, watermelon, sugar cane and other fruits in addition to candles, incense, flowers and more.
