In Khmer, the annual Water Festival in Cambodia's capital is known as Bonn Om Touk. Ushering in the new fishing season, this Water and Moon Festival marks the reversal of the current in Tonle Sap river.
This year's festivities marked a comeback for the celebrations, which had taken a four year break. It was quite a spectacular year for it too, with the moon at the brightest it has been in 69 years thanks to the lunar supermoon event.
Boat races as well as fireworks displays are held at the river which runs past the nations capital, where over a million people have this year turned out to celebrate.
"During the first day, the number of people was between 600,000 to 700,000 people and during the second day it was between 1 million and 1.2 million," Phnom Penh City Hall spokesman Mean Chanyada said yesterday.
The lower turnout on day one is likely to be due to the events rocky history over the past five years, following the tragic stampede of 2010, where more than 340 people were killed at the event. Prime Minister Hun Sen named it the biggest national tragedy to hit the country since the Pol Pot regime.
Since then, widespread flooding and other issues have caused the event to be repeatedly cancelled - making this year quite the success by comparison.
Still, with the population of the capital swelling in size, authorities have taken extra precautions this year.
According to a statement from Phnom Penh municipal police chief Touch Naroth, the Government has sent over ten thousand security officers to assure the safety and securities during the events, which normally attracts locals from various provinces and tourists.
The extra presence comprised of national and military police officers, private security and Ministry of Health officials targeting petty theft as well as broader dangers.
“We will post pictures of theft and fraud suspects on Facebook because people . . . can check their smartphones and be more cautious, and they can report to us when they see these suspicious people [during the event],” Naroth told the Phnom Penh Post last week.
The festival is marked by Boat Racing events, illuminated floats known as Loy Pratip lighting up the river at night and a salutation to the Moon (Sampeas Preah Khe) or supermoon, as it was this year.
This year saw 257 boats with over 17,000 canoeists joining the race during the three day events.
Beside the regatta, there are also 13 Illuminated floats (called Loy Pratip in Khmer), that dot the Tonle Sap river at night time along with hundreds of market stalls and free concerts for revellers to enjoy along the riverbanks.
Head of State, King Norodom Sihamoni also joined the festivities, turning out to cheer on the racers.
