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For the PEPY team, there are few holidays we look forward to more than Bon Oum Touk. This multi-day festival means many things to us. It means a time to connect with family and friends, appreciate our natural surroundings, and honor our culture.
What is Bon Oum Touk?
Bon Oum Touk or the Cambodian Water Festival, is one of Cambodia’s most significant holidays. It includes boat races, the preparation and eating of traditional dishes, various community events, and the giving of offerings. The holiday is celebrated for several reasons including:
- The reversal of the Tonle Sap. That’s right! The Tonle Sap River actually reverses direction, and this natural phenomenon is observed during Bon Oum Touk. This occurs when water from the Mekong, which converges with the Tonle Sap in Phnom Penh, pushes water back up the Tonle Sap and into the Tonle Sap Lake in Siem Reap.
- The ushering in of fishing season. During the holiday celebrations, gods are honored and appeased so that we have a healthy harvest of fish and rice in the upcoming year.
- Honoring King Jayavarman VII of the 12th century by preparing ships (representing the navy) for battle. We even have temple carvings that our Bon Oum Touk boat races still resemble.
Bon Oum Touk generally takes place in late October or early November, often corresponding with the lunar Mid-Autumn Festival, marking the end of the monsoon season. This year, in 2023, the festivities will be from November 26-28.
This year is extra special because you are invited!
Whether you are heading to Siem Reap for the festivities or are thousands of miles away, there are plenty of ways you can join us in the fun.
How to Celebrate Bon Oum Touk Locally and Abroad
1. Join the Boat Races
Locally: Prepare to cheer for your favorite teams as they compete in either Phnom Pehn or Siem Reap! The energy by the riverside is so much fun and we hope you have a chance to go.
Abroad: Check out some of our top boat races and challenge your friends to do a paper boat race.
2. Savor Traditional Foods
Locally: Visit our many corner bakeries and enjoy some of our mouthwatering Khmer dishes made especially for the holidays.
Abroad: Follow this recipe for a fun and easy twist on Auk Ambok, a traditional Bon Oum Touk meal of flattened rice, bananas, and coconut.
3. Enjoy Music and Dancing
Locally: Join one of the many music concerts along the river in both the capital city and Siem Reap city. The music and parties really kick off at night during Bon Oum Touk. Abroad: There are so many great artists for you to listen to! Here are some short clips from some amazing local artists from PEPY’s 2021 Our Story Concert.
4. Immerse Yourself in Cultural Activities
Locally: While you are in town, dive into the heart of Cambodian culture by engaging in art and craft activities along the river, including crafting your own lotus lantern.
Abroad: Get a hold of a lotus lantern of your own to decorate your space or learn how to make your own!
5. Witness the Illuminated Floats
Locally: Do not miss the Illuminated Floats Parade! The parade in Phnom Penh is especially spectacular and well worth the trip.
Abroad: Believe it or not there are many Cambodian communities around the world observing and celebrating Bon Oum Touk. We encourage you to visit a temple in your area or look for a relevant parade or community event honoring our festival. If there are no celebrations happening in your area, we invite you to follow us on TikTok, where we will be posting updates!
Final Thoughts on Bon Oum Touk Before You Go:
We hope you enjoyed reading this post and that we left you inspired to celebrate Bon Oum Touk this year!
If you need any help bringing Bon Oum Touk into your community or would like to learn more about Cambodia’s other holidays, we hope you reach out to us!
Happy Water Festival!
