Cambodia suspends Phnom Penh Water Festival events, provinces may proceed
The government suspended royal Water Festival events planned for November 4–6 in Phnom Penh. Provinces may still hold celebrations where conditions allow.
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Cambodia’s government announced that royal Water Festival events in Phnom Penh, including boat racing, lantern floating and moon salutation, were suspended. Provinces could celebrate according to Khmer tradition. The government said Cambodia was strictly implementing the ceasefire in the spirit of the July 28 special meeting in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Its focus on the border situation, especially displaced people and Cambodian workers returning from Thailand, prompted the following measures:
1. Suspend the royal events planned for November 4–6, 2025 along the Tonle Sap River in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, including boat racing, lantern floating, moon salutation and eating ambok, or flattened rice.
2. Provinces may hold the festivities according to local traditions and the practical capacity of authorities and residents.
The report says the Water Festival also honours Khmer naval personnel who died in twelfth-century battles. It links the fighting in 1177–1181 with Jayavarman VII and refers to carvings at Bayon and Banteay Chhmar temples.
Preah Sihanouk Provincial Television. By ចិន្តា ទីទិ.
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