In April 2023, I stayed in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I was aware of Thailand’s famous Songkran Water Festival, but I hadn’t known that Cambodia had a similar event when I planned my itinerary. As a result, my return flight coincided with the first day of Cambodia’s Water Festival (Khmer New Year). The main water throwing festival was scheduled to start at midnight on the eve of the New Year, but since I was flying home the next day, I participated in the early-hour water activities with the children.
Cambodia’s Khmer New Year
I had been staying in Siem Reap for two weeks without knowing about Khmer New Year, but I did notice the city’s atmosphere changing slightly. Decorations and water guns started appearing in the markets, and I figured some festival was approaching. Events resembling a part of a festival were also held around the Old Market. It was only after researching online that I learned an event similar to Thailand’s Songkran would be held exactly on my departure date.
History and Culture of the Water Festival
Songkran is a traditional festival also celebrated in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Laos. In Cambodia, it’s linked to Buddhist rituals, where families and friends splash water on each other to pray for a safe year.
The Charm of the Water Festival
- Tradition Meets Modernity: New Year is celebrated in various forms, from ancient traditional prayers to water battles among young people.
- Vibrant City: The entire city gets wet, and people’s smiles abound, creating an overwhelmingly lively scene.
- Interaction with Locals: It’s a valuable opportunity to interact with local people and enjoy the festivities together.
The Cambodian version of Songkran, known as Khmer New Year, seems to begin its full-scale water festival after midnight on New Year’s Eve. Although it supposedly continues from morning the next day, I couldn’t participate in the daytime water fights because I was returning to Japan on New Year’s Day. Nevertheless, I bought a small water gun, hoping to at least get a feel for the atmosphere.
Even the children at the shop were eager, practicing with their water guns.
The Day of the Water Fight (Eve of Khmer New Year)
The city’s main road was blocked off and became a pedestrian-only zone, stages were set up, and loud rehearsals began. As dusk settled, I changed into clothes that could get wet, prepared a towel, and headed to the city center.
The city was still quiet before the official start, but children who went to bed early were already walking around fully equipped. However, because the city center has many foreign tourists, the children were hesitant to splash water on them. They only splashed water among themselves. Some small boys even carried water tanks on their backs but just walked around, hesitating to splash anyone.
So, I splashed one of the boys with my small water gun and gestured for him to splash back. Once he understood that it was okay to splash, he returned fire with his powerful water gun. He was delighted when I reacted dramatically to being splashed. That’s how I played with the children, splashing and getting splashed.
Around 9 PM, I got tired of playing with the children, and not wanting it to affect my flight the next day, I returned to my accommodation. I did not participate in the midnight countdown or the serious water fight that followed with the adults. Later, watching videos on YouTube, it seemed like quite a lively event.
Day of Return (First Day of Khmer New Year)
The next day, I prepared for my flight and headed to the airport by tuk-tuk. Along the way to the airport, people from houses lining the road had hoses and buckets lined up in front of their homes, indiscriminately splashing water on passing vehicles. On the road itself, several fully equipped water gun squads were positioned in the back of trucks, engaging in a “gunfight” between the road and cars.
My tuk-tuk had only a frame and no protection from water, so I got soaked when water was thrown from the road. Some people hesitated when they realized a foreigner was inside, but I gestured to them to not hold back and splash away. By the time I arrived at the airport, I was completely drenched.
Because I had planned my trip without knowing anything about the Water Festival, I had to leave halfway through the festivities. However, Southeast Asia is extremely hot during this season, so deliberately traveling during this time is something to consider.
Nevertheless, similar festivals are held not only in Cambodia but also in Thailand and surrounding countries. So, if you plan to travel to Southeast Asia during this period, factoring in the dates and participating fully equipped would surely create lasting memories.
