- Title: Water festival celebrations take place in Cambodia
- Date: 13th November 2016
- Summary: TONLE SAP RIVER, PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (NOVEMBER 13, 2016) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** BOAT RACES ORGANISERS BOAT RACES ORGANISER TELL SPEAKING ON MICROPHONE PAIR OF BOATS PREPARING TO RACE VARIOUS OF BOATS ON THE RIVER PREPARING FOR THE RACES VARIOUS OF BOAT RACES ON THE TONLE SAP RIVER VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WATCHING THE RACES SOUNDBITE (Khmer) A MAN FROM PHNOM PENH CITY, MR. MUTH CHOU SAYING: "I am so happy to come to watch the boat races here. I really want to watch from the beginning till the end of the races for the day." CROWD OF PEOPLE WATCHING THE BOAT RACES SOUNDBITE (Khmer) A WOMAN FROM KOMPOMNG CHAM PROVINCE, MRS. LONG NAYKIM SAYING: "I haven't watch the boat races since 2014 so I come here today to watch it again to see if how it look like and now I see it looks happy." VARIOUS OF BOAT RACES VARIOUS OF KING NORODOM SIHAMONI ARRIVING ON STAGE OVERLOOKING THE RACES VARIOUS OF BOAT RACES CROWDS WATCHING RACES VARIOUS OF BOAT RACES VARIOUS OF KING NORODOM SIHAMONI KING GREETS ROWERS FROM THE STAGE PHOTOGRAPHERS NIGHT SHOTS KING NORODOM SIHAMONI LIGHTING THE ROYAL PALACE LIGHT-BOAT THE ROYAL PALACE LIGHT-BOAT KING NORODOM SIHAMONI CLAPPING HIS HANDS AND PRAYING AS THE FIRE WORKS START THE END OF THE FIRST DAY RACES GOVERNMENT MINISTERS TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FIREWORKS THE ROYAL LIGHT-BOAT LEAVING THE ROYAL PALACE STAGE FIREWORKS LIGHT-BOATS ON THE TONLE SAP RIVER MAN TAKING PHOTOGRAPH OF THE FIREWORKS SENATE LIGHT-BOAT FIRE WORKS OVER THE LIGHT-BOAT LIGHT-BOATS ON THE RIVER
- Embargoed: 28th November 2016 16:25
- Keywords: Festival Cambodia boats water Phnom Penh
- Location: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
- City: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
- Country: Cambodia
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA00158A26OP
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hundreds of colourful dragon boats from all over Cambodia converged on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penhon on Sunday (November 13) to take part in races.
The boats, crewed by dozens of rowers, both men and women, sped across the choppy waters of the river in front of the royal palace.
A total of 257 boats took part in the races, less than in 2010, the last time the event took place, because of the short notice given by the government to allow the celebration to take place again.
The country is in the grip of a political crisis between the opposition party and the government.
This is the second times the celebration has been held since 353 people were killed in a stampede in 2010.
The festivities, which draw more than a million people from the provinces and mark the Tonle Sap's annual change of direction, were cancelled for three years due to the stampede, flooding and the death of the King's father, former king Norodom Sihanouk.
One onlooker, Muth Chou said he was thrilled to be at the celebration. "I am so happy to come to watch the boat races here." He said, "I really want to watch from the beginning till the end of the races for the day."
King Norodom Sihamoni attended the event which recalls Cambodia's history of defeating its enemies using boats.
The monarch lit an enormous boat festooned with lights which joined similar ones on the river under the night skies, which were lit up with fireworks.
More than 10,000 security personnel were deployed around the city for this year's event to avoid another stampede and to head off any anti-government protests, according to Phnom Penh city hall security committee.
The boat races will take place until November 15. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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