PHNOM PENH, Nov 29 (NNN-AKP) – Cambodia’s three-day Water Festival, attracted some 4.9 million locals and tourists to the capital Phnom Penh, according to a Cambodian National Police’s report today.
Celebrated from Sunday to yesterday, the water festival is one of the largest festivals in the country. On the occasion, people from across the country flocked to the capital’s riverside, to enjoy a regatta, which is the festival’s centrepiece.
The festival drew an estimated 1.2 million revellers on Sunday, 1.7 million on Monday, and two million yesterday, the report said.
“In general, the festival had gone well, with good security and public order,” the report added.
Prime Minister, Hun Manet, said, crowds of locals, as well as, foreign tourists, had enjoyed the festival, which featured boat races in the day and the parade of illuminated floats, as well as, fireworks at night.
“I would like to commend all relevant institutions and authorities for jointly organising this festival smoothly, with excellent security and public order, creating a joyful atmosphere for the festival-goers,” he said in a text, released on his official Telegram channel.
A total of 337 boats with 20,417 oarsmen took part in the regatta, which saw participants racing their boats along a 1.7-kilometre stretch of the Tonle Sap river, that runs in front of the royal palace, said Bou Chumserey, vice chairman of the boat-racing technical control committee.
The annual festival marks the end of the rainy season and the unique reversal flow of the Tonle Sap river, that connects the Tonle Sap lake with the Mekong river, the official said.– NNN-AKP
