Friday, November 23, 2007

Water Festival 2007

.


Water Festival

Water festival is one of the national festival and holidays in Cambodia. It is celebrated in the mean to thanks to the Mekong River which provides water for the crop and to welcome new harvest season.

Today, 23rd November, is the first day of Water Festival. There are around 2000 competitors of 144 boats from all over Cambodia. From yesterday till this morning, there are thousands of people in the crowd in front of the Royal Palace along the river bank. More than 4 millions people from provinces also include the Phnom Penh residents are predicted to enjoy this festival. There are 10 different concerts places at the public parks from 10 TV stations to entertain the people so as to make the Water Festival this year the most joyful one.

A huge number of participants will be found in the evening as people like to go to see the fireworks. From my apartment balcony, I could see many people traveling east toward the river side. The sound of vehicles could be heard since dawn. However, the traffic will be closed around the area near the riverside from 3pm onward. During Water Festival every year, I don’t have any plan to go anywhere rather than enjoy seeing peoples and watching boat racing on TV. ( ^ , ^ )

On the second day of Water Festival, the moon is full. Everyone in my family stay up till mid night. We pray to the moon and grandma ORK OM BOK us. There is so much fun. J OM BOK ( kinda oat??!!?), banana and many more different fruits filled up my mouth, and then grandma asks me what I wish for this year. As my mouth is full up, it’s hard to talk. It was funny! Have you ever done this??? Must be “Yes”, right? Hehehe….

On the other hand, there is one important thing to consider. The municipal department is worried about the rubbish problem after the three-day-festival. Every year, like last year, after the festival, the grassy parks which normally full of fresh green grass and cleaned turned to dead and yellow and full of rubbish! Just as what I’ve posted in my blog last year, the high school students including me joint the social activities of protecting the environment clean by going to help the Cintry group (Public Rubbish Gathering Group) pick up all those rubbish. I am not sure how the process is going for this year yet at all as there are around 20 NGOs stalls at the parks cover different topics such as Smoking is harmful, educate about AIDS, etc… to share ( in a way of education) to those people.

8 comments

Anonymous said...

Sammy: Interesting history! I've learned something new! Yay! Best of luck and keep up the good work!

Anonymous said...

Sammy! as far as you can go, I'll follow you. lolz

Hey Double.D, trust me, stay inside your bedroom for these three days, coz along the streets will be full of perverts.

Take care sister

Oh, This is Denith...

Hey Sammy the MAX... let's check out some other Khmer girl's blog...

Anonymous said...

You link this in ASEAN Clan rite?

DEN...

Anonymous said...

Vicheth: Hey DD, that's a very imformative story. Thanks for sharing. Hope u hv a lot of fun during the holiday. For me, hik hik hik, I don't get to enjoy the water festival. Anyway, I will for sure one day.

Anonymous said...

Vicheth: Hey, thie. Don't be so sarcastic. U r yab nas. Man, at least she posted sth for us to see what she's up to. Anyway, happy thanksgiving to u. Hope u hv a lot of fun. Enjoy da holiday.

Sayon said...

Hey every body! pls post pic in the Water Festival. i really want to the view in cambodia.
Thx all

Sayon said...

post more na!

KEO Kalyan said...

>>Sammy: thanks for droppin by frn! Good luck to u too! :)

>>Denith: yah, i linked this article in asean blog as well.

>>Cheth: ehy, don cry! u'll see some more pics during the festival na! i'l post it in my blog soon! ;)

>>Sayon: u'll see it more soon! don worry!

 

Followers

Me, Myself and I

My photo
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Me? I knew nothin' about myself besides living with smiles and be cheerful cuz i dunno how long my life could last!