(Written by Ty
Theavy)
Since 2008 Chi
Phat has celebrated the first water festival organized by CBET Community,
supported by Wildlife Alliance. The festival celebrates the end of the rainy
season and praises the water spirits; it also commemorates a great war between
King Jayavaraman VII and the Cham people. There were at least 16 row
boats and 8 paddle boats from 4 villages of Chi Phat commune, and there were
over one thousand local spectators including foreigners to see the racers. You
can join it in every November of the year here or in Phnom Penh. But it is a
far difference between the Phnom Penh and Chi Phat racing boats because here is
not available to find a long boat like the city. If you can join here you will
know why Cambodian holds this ceremony.
During the water
festival here at night people came to float lanterns on the river and they went
dancing together or to watch a film in the compound of the monastery. It is on
the other side of the river in Toeuk La Ork village, so Chi Phat villagers took
boats across the river to participate dancing over there.
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