[ Cambodia Headline Reporter Darcy Yao] The annual water delivery festival (October 30-November 2) is here again. However, compared with previous years, this year's Water Delivery Festival is a bit "special". Due to the need for COVID-19 prevention and control, the grand water dragon boat race, oil lamp discharge, and light boat parades that should be held during the Water Delivery Festival have been cancelled by Cambodia's official order. The good news, though, is that public holidays are still in effect. How much do you know about the water delivery festival?
Water Delivery Festival is the most important traditional festival in Cambodia. It usually comes from October to November every year. The Water Delivery Festival marks the end of the rainy season and the arrival of the fishing festival.
According to Cambodia's traditional folk customs, during the 4 days of the Water Delivery Festival, people will race dragon boats in the rivers. Unlike the traditional Chinese Dragon Boat Festival dragon boat race, the significance of Cambodia's dragon boat race is to commemorate the strength of the former Khmer Empire sailors.
△The grand and lively dragon boat racing
Water delivery festival, people also have customs such as worshiping the moon, eating flat rice (foods that are fried glutinous rice and pounding flat), drinking coconut milk, setting off oil lamps, setting off fireworks, and traveling on the lantern boat. In previous years, the night view of people traveling to the four-sided river around the Imperial Palace of Phnom Penh, was also very spectacular and beautiful.
In 2010, during the celebration event, the brick and stone island caused panic among the people due to the swaying bridge in Phnom Penh, and a stampede accident occurred. Therefore, in recent years, Cambodia has become increasingly restrained in holding large-scale celebrations during the Water Delivery Festival, and sometimes even cancelled them directly.
This year, due to the epidemic, the gathering celebration of the Water Delivery Festival has also been cancelled.
However, in order to boost the recovery of tourism, Cambodia's official official has not prohibited other celebrations except for gathering celebrations during the Water Delivery Festival. The public can still choose to travel during the holidays.
What should I pay attention to when going out for a trip?
For Chinese people who have just arrived in Cambodia, the Water Delivery Festival is obviously a very attractive festival. During the holidays, traveling and understanding Cambodia's folk customs is a good choice.
However, during the Water Delivery Festival, what should Chinese people who go out to travel pay attention to?
First of all, the rainy season in Cambodia has not ended, and the impact of flood disasters has not subsided. Chinese compatriots choose to travel and should try to avoid going to places where water depths or silt is accumulated due to floods.
Secondly, the epidemic has not yet ended. When traveling, it is inevitable to stay in the hotel and eat in the hotel. Before staying in the hotel and going to the hotel, you must check the hygiene and tidy situation of the hotel and the hotel in advance to avoid indirect epidemic infection.
When encountering a situation of slaughtering customers, you can report the case to the local police station. During the Water Delivery Festival, operators raised prices and were explicitly prohibited by Cambodia.
Although there are no collective light boat tours, many Chinese may still choose family-style and team-building boat tours. Headline reporter reminded that Mekong has risen due to heavy rainfall, and the water level is even more dangerous under the hidden water surface due to flood discharge. Therefore, when riding a cruise, you must not overload and wear a life jacket.
△ Very beautiful travel light boat
More importantly, pay attention to the weather warnings of the Ministry of Water Conservancy and Meteorological Affairs in advance. If there is bad weather, try not to travel to the river.
Tourism Department issued such a directive...
Cambodian Tourism Minister Tang Kun issued a directive on the 26th urging local tourism departments officials to strengthen safety measures for tourist attractions during the Water Delivery Festival to ensure the safety of tourists and improve tourists’ satisfaction with tourist attractions.
Tang Kun urges all local tourism departments to educate tourism enterprises and tourists, pay attention to hygiene and environmental protection, such as wearing masks, maintaining hygiene habits, and keeping the scenic spots clean. Hotels, hotels and other places must be kept clean and hygienic. Officials from tourism departments in various places should conduct timely field inspections to improve people's understanding of risks and prevention measures for the new coronavirus.
He also said that the tourism department must cooperate with suppliers and tourism operators to improve the quality of tourist attractions, ensure that the tickets, figures and other goods of tourist attractions are controlled within a reasonable range acceptable to tourists.All types of tourism operators should clearly mark the price of goods to avoid excessive charges.
△Water delivery festival, eating flat rice and drinking coconut milk are more suitable for
Some authoritative people said that the epidemic has caused people to reduce their income, and now people are looking for ways to save money. Not everyone has sufficient expenses when traveling.
Tang Kun emphasized that if any operators take the opportunity to raise prices during the Water Delivery Festival, they will be subject to legal sanctions. When tourists encounter excessive fees, they can report to the local tourism department.
Editor: Yeemon
