Silent View in front of Royal Palace during Water Festival 2012, Photo by Chhay Panhaleak
Written by Muong Vandy
Holiday always happens to human daily life for a different day. People are working for lives in each country to arrange the family condition. Reality, even they are working everyday, they also need day-off during the celebration day. Moreover, different country has different number date-off. For example, in Europe, they can have a long day-off during Christmas Day (Noel), and especially in Cambodia, they can have a long holiday as well during Khmer New Year, Phcum Ben, Water Festival, and so on.
With a busy day, people are not wishing to have; however, these are the obligation to do so in order to support lives. They want to have a relaxing day to release their stress and doing some important things beside working as individual.
In Cambodia, during October and November is the month season which we (Cambodian) have a lot of holiday. We can have a day-off during celebration in upon the time. By the way, one of big celebration day in Cambodia, is called Water Festival (Ohk Ombok, Bandet Protich, Sampesh PreahKhae). Every year, we have celebrated this ceremony everywhere along the Mekong River in Cambodia. As like, we always have boat racing, Ohk Ombok, Bandet Protich, Sampesh PreahKhae in pagoga, and especially along the river in front of Royal Palace.
Unfortunately, Cambodia has stopped celebrating Water Festival for three years in the city (Phnom Penh) already because of a few reasons since 2012, 2011 and this year 2012. The reason for this year is because our former king Sihanouk just death (since 15th October which is the last day of Phcum Ben Day), we are sad in Cambodia, and we have to condolence of his body for three months. However, according to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s speech, we still can celebrate Water Festival as the same in cities and provinces beside Phnom Penh (in front of Royal Palace).
Ultimately, the Water Festival is coming; we observe that Cambodian people move from Phnom Penh to their hometown as well as touristic sites such as Siem Reap, Sihanouk Ville, Rattanakiri, Mondulkiri, Kompot and other places. These are the reasons that leading Phnom Penh city becomes a silent city during this three. In contrast, in the last few years, Phnom Penh has celebrated Water Festival, and there are crowed of people coming in the city in order to enjoy boat racing, exhibition, and other many great things surrounding the city “Seeing the beautiful city”.
As I am a Cambodian citizen, I hope to have a real traditional culture, respect it as a whole and try to preserve it for our next generations in the future like our special word “Cambodia, Kingdom of Cambodia”.
Cambodian Environment 