PHNOM PENH: Bon Om Touk in Khmer Language. It means boat racing festival. A three-day Cambodian holiday celebrated in late October or early November marking the end of the country’s rainy season as well as the change in flow of the sacred river - Tonle Sap River back from the Great Lake to the Mekong River at Phnom Penh.

Royal Boat Races occur on the first day. Following the colourful boat racing, large lanterns are released as part of the “Bondet Bratib” ceremony at 6 o’ clock in the evening. It represents prayer for peace from Preah Mae Kongkea or the Goddess Ganga. The goddess is viewed as the mother of seas, rivers, streams, creeks and lakes.

Cambodians believe that Preah Mae Kongkea protects and provides the water for human and animal husbandly and the flow of sediments and fish. The second day of the festival is called Og Ambok. It says about the worship of the Moon. It takes place at twelve minutes past midnight and invokes a lantern lighting ceremony with prayers to Preah Purthisat, who invented the legend of a moon rabbit.

In the tradition, during the Og Ambok ceremony a group play a game where members must make each other laugh. whoever lasts the longest, wins and decides who the loser is. The loser must then eat Ambok with bananas until the end of the day.

On the last day, a ribbon is cut, signifying the end of the boat race and the Water and Moon Festival. But with the Covid-19 situation in the country, the Royal Government has decided to cancel the spectacular celebrations of the Cambodian Water Festival. However, people can still enjoy the three days holiday away from work while spending time with their families.

Just a reminder from the Ministry of Health and the Royal Government, never forget the preventative measures and safety precautions against the Covid-19 infection.

^{PHOTO: Sola}