Cambodia To Cancel This Year’s Water Festival

The Royal Government of Cambodia has announced to cancel this year’s celebration of the Water Festival scheduled to be held from Nov.16-18 in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.  

The Water Festival, which includes boat races and moon festival, will be cancelled as the country is suffering by devastating floods, explained a circular signed by Premier Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen on Oct. 6. 

This annual festival can be celebrated as usual in other places besides Phnom Penh Capital, it underlined, adding that civil servants, employees and workers will have three days off as usual.  

The circular also recommended all ministries and institutions to continue to pay high attention to assist and provide emergency relief to victims and to rehabilitate destroyed crops and damaged infrastructure.   

This is the third consecutive year that this celebration is called off since 2011. 

Last year, Cambodia cancelled the celebration of the annual Water Festival as the country was mourning for King-Father Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk who passed away on Oct. 15 in Beijing, China; and in 2011 it was also called off due to devastating floods, which claimed at least 250 lives and cost the country some US$521 million. 

Sourced: AKP