Bon Om Touk

Khmer warriors on their long naval boat in the battle of Tonle Sap. Bayon Temple. 12th century.

Boat racing is believed to have been celebrated from ancient times during the reign of Jayavarman VII in (1181 AD) to the present, to commemorate the heroic victory of the Khmer navy that liberated their land from the Cham troops of the Champa Kingdom in a boat battle on the Tonle Sap Lake.[5]^:120–121

According to the record of Thach Pen alias "Piko (Pang Khat)" from Khleang Province (Soc Trang), Kampuchea Krom (Southern Vietnam), in 1528 AD, King Ang Chan I ordered Ponhea Tat, the commander of the Khmer navy in the Bassac District of Kampuchea Krom, to prepare the Khmer army to defend the province of Preah Trapeang (Tra Vinh, Vietnam), which was under attack from Đại Việt kingdom under Mạc Đăng Dung. The naval boats were divided into three groups:

• Group 1 is called the "Toap Srouch" or vanguard and the boats that are shaped like today's racing boats are called Ngor boats.
• Group 2 is called the reserve army and two rows of rowing boats shaped like today's stand racing boats.
• Group 3, called the Bassac Troops, is a large boat with a roof, oars, and sails, shaped like the Bassac boat, called the Pok Chay boat, and the boat is very long. There is a single roof across the front, no walls, only used at night with lanterns, a food boat for the army, which is the delivery of rice from Kampong Chhnang to Kampuchea Krom in Preah Trapeang Province until the Cambodian navy won.[6]

After his victory, at the same time as King Ang Chan I was crowned in 1529 AD, he celebrated the Bondet Bratib ceremony every year with candles at night, to celebrate the victory over the Đại Việt, to dedicate the glass chin of Buddha, which is kept in the world of Nāga, and to be grateful to the goddess Ganga Preah Mae Kongkea in Khmer language.[7][8][9][10]

Cambodian racing boat at Phnom Penh near Wat Phnom at the background as depicted in 1873 Le Magasin Pittoresque publication of King Norodom.

As early as 1873, depiction of a Cambodian racing boats appeared in the French publication Le Magasin Pittoresque, and in 1887, the French magazine Les Colonies Francaises dedicated several pages to the meaning of the Water Festival. The festival had been celebrated occasionally after Phnom Penh became the capital of Cambodia in 1866 during the French Protectorate period. After the World War II, Water Festival was also celebrated in Phnom Penh in 1945 and next in 1953 after the Independence of Cambodia from France. In the 1960s, the scope of the festival grew with the doubled number of boats participated in the boat racing festival in Phnom Penh. The festival had been interrupted many times and then suspended during the Cambodian Civil War.[11][12][13] Water Festival was re-celebrated after the 1993 General Election supervised by UNTAC until nowadays, however, has been suspended many times because of many incidents, natural disasters, and finally the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020.[14]

Early forms of illuminated floats during the Water Festival Celebration during French colonial period in 1945 after the end of World War 2.

Illuminated float (Bratib) of National Assembly of Cambodia during the night of Water Festival.

Bratib is a Lanterns, lamps. In Khmer, we only call small lamps without glass: light a lantern Frames or figurines placed on a flat boat or on a raft, illuminated, floating on the water: floating Water lanterns, many lanterns lined up in a row, in a frame, or in a vertical position, shining brightly for the festival, etc.[17] The Cambodian Lantern Festival is similar to India's "Ganga puja" or "Ganga Dussehra" which is celebrated every year to pay homage to the Goddess Ganga. The Lantern Floating Ceremony is an important event for Cambodians to remember their gratitude for the God-given source of water that is essential to sustaining their daily religious beliefs.So that all people can pray for peace and also pray for their wishes so that God will bless them. Floating lanterns are floating dedicated to both Hinduism and Buddhism. The Dedicated to Buddhism, which is mentioned in the In Pali Khmer version Teathavong scripture Tathagata Pali, it is stated that the four glass jaws of the Buddha Samma Samputa are in four places:

• In the Trāyastriṃśa, the paradise of the 33 devas
• In Nāga or Dragon World
• In Kandy, at Sri Lanka
• In Dantapuri, at Danthavarapukota India

This festival consecrates Preah Chongkhoum Keo (the tooth relics of Buddha) The Khmer people conduct this festival during the full moon of November and believed that great merit and prosperity will be provided to the country.

According to Pali Pheana Veara, it is said that the footprints of the Buddha are located in five directions: Sovann Mealika Barapoat, Sovann Barapoat,Sovann Koda Barapoat, Yoonka Borei and Stoeng Neamatea.

In the prose and Pali praise of Preah Bath "Yortha Bate" it is also said that Buddha's fottprints are located in five directions as mentioned in Pheana Veara.

Bondet Bratib is believed by the Khmer people to have taken place in the 8th century the origin name floating "Bay Sey" or Bondet "Bay Sey" (បាយសី) at Chenla period the original Khmer religion depicting the people before of the Angkorian period celebrating the rituals. "Preah Mae Kongkea", the Khmer goddess or guardian deity of the water, is revered by the Cambodian people to this day.[18]

Royal concubines dedicating and holding kantong (containers made from leaves with ritual objects) as depicted at Bayon temple in 12th century which is the origin of today Loy Kantong.

Kantong, a container made from leaves with flowers and offerings

Kantong is a plates, utensils made of leaves for food, slaw cigarettes.[19] Kantong festival in September with the last day of Cambodia Pchum Ben Day floating to the Spirit Ghost, Demon, and Soul.

Cambodian stopped floating Kantong in 1960s because of water pollution. Kantong dates back to the Angkorian Empire, based on the bas relief of Bayon temple, the recorded documents by some Cambodian culturalist Mr.Tran Ngea professor of cultural archeology of Director of Khmer Mon Institute 1972. The ordinary people made their kantong from banana trees decorating with flowers, leaves, candles incense with some foods floating offerings to send relatives for the last time on the occasion of the opening of the gates of hell.[20]

Og Ambok
Traditional rice dish of the Cambodian Bon Om Touk Festival, served with coconut and grapes in an ordinary Khmer household.

Og Ambok (Khmer: អកអំបុក, IPA: [ʔog ɑmboːk]) is the traditional rice dish which forms part of the Bon Om Tuk ceremony. During the festival, it is traditional to eat Ambok with coconut juice and banana.[21]

Og Ambok is made by first frying the rice in its natural husks, then beating it in a pestle till soft, and finally, the husks are then removed and mixed in with banana and coconut juice for flavor. This mixture is eaten when the clock strikes midnight, or when the incense offered at the beginning of the gathering, is consumed. Og Ambok is still to this day a very popular traditional dish and it is for sale everywhere during the Bon Om Touk festival.[22]

The history of the Og Ambok ceremony dates back to a long time ago, when it is believed that during the reign of King Barom Reachea III in the year 1568 AD, it happened through his dream, which he dreamed of Indra.Fight with the Demon in fortress Longvek, he saw Indra throwing a ray of lightning to kill the beast. Suddenly, the sound of lightning struck, waking him up. In the morning, he sent his officers to look at the surrounding land in Banteay Longvek and found a land where there was a real lightning strike. The King started "Krong Peali" offering ceremony to pray to the deities of the eight gods directions for 3 day. He ordered the army to build a pagoda to worship Indra, called "Indra Pagoda", in Kampong Chhnang Province and later changed its name to Wat Preah Indra Tep by building a statue of the Buddha in Kampong Chhnang today. When the construction of this pagoda was completed, he organized this ceremony to spread the ambok.[23][24]

On the second day of the Royal Water Festival, a special commemoration of Lord Indra is celebrated. The reversal of the Tonle Sap suggests why a parallel could be drawn by the Khmer people with Lord Indra. Indra is the one who releases the water from the winter demon. This is the most common theme of the Rigveda concerning Lord Indra: he as the god with thunderbolt kills the evil serpent Vritra that held back rains, and thus released rains and land nourishing rivers.[25] For example, the Rigvedic hymn 1.32 dedicated to Indra reads:

During this ceremony, 4 or 5 punchers are assigned to help, and there may be 2 or 3 rookers in each group. Assemblers are assigned to collect Angre mortars and search for shredded wood. Normally, at Moha Ambok, 30 to 50 mortars are used to make this ceremony solemn. So they prepared 8 or 30 groups of people to participate in this event. The Og Ambok ceremony is performed when the moon is straight or when the moon is directly overhead.The Archbishop announced that the young men would come to the table and dance in groups lined up with lanterns. Fun A woman grabs a man's hair and tells him to keep his mouth shut. Another woman grabs the ombok and pours the ombus into the man's mouth. The Official call Og Ambok Repeatedly this is repeated, asking, "Is it full?" Comes out loud, not sure full. And they continue to chant until the end of the moon worship. The meaning of the Og Ambok ceremony confirms the abundance of their food stored throughout the year.[28]

The image of a rabbit and mortar delineated on the Moon's surface

In the Buddhist Jataka tales called Cheadok in its Khmer version, Tale 316 relates that a monkey, an otter, a jackal, and a rabbit resolved to practice charity on the day of the full moon (Uposatha), believing a demonstration of great virtue would earn a great reward. According to the Khmer version of the popular legend in the Sovannasam Cheadok (ជាតក), this rabbit is called Pothisat. Every full moon, this holy rabbit would offer his life to someone who wanted to become a Buddha. One full moon, the god Indra found out to testing theirs animals a bout this. He presented himself under the appearance of an old Brahman of Hinduism, and asked theirs animals for foods and the last rabbit call Sasabandit for food too. The rabbit not have many food likely the him group and he agreed to give his life to the old Brahman for food. But the old Brahman said, "This rabbit has observed moral precepts for a long time, so he cannot be killed." Then the rabbit told the old man to make a fire, and then jumped into the fire to kill himself, so that the old man could eat him. But before he jumped into the fire, he quietly wished that he could stay later the old Brahman transformed himself into Indra and said that pure alms is a virtue. Indra not power controll to the moon Khmer call "Chantrea" Indra request to the Goddess Ganga of the wife of the God Shiva make the rabbit image appear in the long time universe in the moon forever after his death. According to this legend, we can still see the rabbit in the middle of the moon today. [29]

The Sampeah Preah Khae (Khmer: សំពះព្រះខែ, IPA: [sɑmpeəʰ preəʰ kʰaːe]; "moon salutation") is a Buddhist religious festival which is dedicated to the moon which coincides with the Royal Water Festival. Sampeah Preah Khae takes place on the last day of the Royal Water Festival. Cambodians usually set up an array of offerings in the form of fruits that are popular with rabbits, such as Ambok, banana, coconut, yam or sweet potato, as well as drink and incense in front of their homes at night before gathering at pagodas at midnight for the third ceremony, Ak Ambok.[30] They remember the life of Pouthesat the moon rabbit. The full moon determines actual date of the entire water festival. Cambodian people celebrate these two festivals around this time also because this is when bananas, coconuts, yam and sweet potatoes are in abundance.[31] After the Sampeah Preah Khae ceremony, devout Buddhists gather at a pagoda at midnight for the rites associated with Ak Ambok.[32]

In the middle of the night, household usually gather to burn incense first, and make small offerings such as ambok, coconut juice and bananas. Once consumed, adults usually take a handful of ambok to feed it into the mouth of younger children as a sign of care and goodwill. While holding their noses, children open their mouth and look at the moon usually making a wish, remembering the generosity of the altruistic rabbit as a model. Apart from these domestic rituals, Khmer people usually enjoy gambling as a group during the festival.[33]

The Royal Water Festival, which lasts for three days, was recorded for the first time under the reign of King Norodom in 1873 and follows a precise ritual. Dragon boats, from every major pagoda in Cambodia, come to Phnom Penh and compete for three entire days during daylight in elimination rounds until the final race on the third day. In the evening, at the sunset, around 6:00 pm, a prayer is said for peace to Preah Mae Kongkea and a candle is lit by the King. Following this prayer, illuminated floating boats parade on the Tonle Sap, accompanied by fireworks. The illuminated floating boats represent the various royal ministries of Cambodia.

It is difficult to make a precise list of the various dragon boats involved in the race. The earliest French documents show boat carvings from the temples of Banteay Chhmar and the temple of Bayon. Khmer architecture is used to design various types of boats, such as:

World's Longest Dragon Boat
Cambodia breaks Guinness World Records for World's Longest dragon Boat (Kambojika Putta Khemara Tarei)

• The Makara boat
• The Nāga boat
• The Five Head Naga boats
• The Elephant boat
• The Crocodile boats
• The Hanuman boat riding giant
• The Suvannamaccha boat or Mermaid boat
• The Hang Meas (Khmer Golden Phoenix-like Bird) boat
• The Peacocks boat
• The Garuda boat

Phnom Penh resumed Water Festival celebrations in 1990,[35] following a 20-year break under the Lon Nol regime and then the genocidal Khmer Rouge. A few of Phnom Penh's many foreign residents started participating in the featured boat races in the mid-1990s, though in the first year of participation their boat capsized, along with two other teams, in the wake of a larger ship.[35] In 2008, five rowers drowned and a single rower drowned in 2009 during the boat races.[36]

The celebration turned tragic in 2010, when thousands became trapped and stampeded off the bridge between Phnom Penh and Diamond Island, killing 351 people and injuring 395 more.[37] Rumors spread that it was caused by fear of a coming storm or electrical shock from faulty wiring, and authorities ultimately laid blame on the swaying of the bridge.[38]

Phnom Penh authorities came under fire in 2016 for sanitation, after videos of cleaning crews sweeping trash into the Tonle Sap incited anger on social media.[39]

Upriver dams and a devastating drought in 2019 brought the Mekong to its lowest level ever recorded. The combination has left the Tonle Sap Lake, Southeast Asia's largest fresh-water lake, in crisis. Instead of months, the reversal of the Tonle Sap river lasted just six weeks, which may have consequences on fishing in the region.[40]