Phnom Penh: For the second year running, there will be no Water Festival in Cambodia next month. Interior Minister, Sar Kheng, announced on Monday that the decision by government has been taken in the best interests of the people, given Covid-19. While there will be no boat races this year, the three-day national holiday will still go ahead.

The Water Festival or “Bon Om Touk” in Khmer, corresponds with the lunar mid-autumn festival, marking the end of the rainy season. It also takes advantage of the annual reversal of the flow of the Tonle Sap River, with thousands of boat racing teams making their way to Phnom Penh for the final day of the festival, but not this year.

With the kingdom still battling Covid-19 and preparing to fully reopen the economy, the Royal Government has decided to be cautious and cancel all events associated with the Water Festival between 18 and 20 November. The three-day national holiday though, will still be observed. The last time Cambodia celebrated the Water Festival in all its splendour was November 2019.