Volume 1 Issue 3
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL NEWSPAPER
“You’re going to reach the top with us.” 1 December 2003
Water Festival
T
he history of the Regatta Festival has been chronicled by the Cambodian people and also foreigners for a very long time. In fact, the festival is depicted in stones of the Angkorian period. There are different histories to the festival 1. According to documentation written by Mr. Trach Pen, the lay teacher of the Academic Buddhist College in Kampuchea Kraom Kleang Khet, it is mentioned that: In the Longvek era (2071 BE. 1528 AD). Preah Bath Ang Chann I appointed Ponhea Tat to the position of King Tranh (District King) of Kampuchea K r a o m B a s s a k D i s t r i c t. Racing at the junction allowed easier access for many provinces. The event became an annual tradition providing the navy with the opportunity to show its military prowess. ZAMAN NEWSPAPER Zaman, Publisher Zulfi Erken, Editor -in-Chief Murat Tutumlu, Editor at Large Oum Vantharith, writer Malik Ates, writer Zaman International School Newspaper dedicated to educating students and training journalists. Published 2 times a month in Zaman International School. Copyright 2003 by the Zaman International School. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced in print or electronically without the consent of The Zaman International School.
2. It is said that the water festival is one of the most spectacular t r a d i t i o n a l e v e n t s. I t i s described as being similar to some festivals held in the north o f Europe t o d a y. Some t r a d itionalist s claim the history of the festival lies in close c o nnectio n with the history of B u dd h a, h o wever, others translate that the festival represents a thanksgiving to the Gods of Water and Earth for providing the livelihood and welfare for the Cambodian people. One final translation relates to the festival following the tradition of Brahmanism and reflecting the daily life of the farming community. The District King assigned a royal administration to defend his district. He divided his navy into three different types of boats with his troops trained in specific fighting styles: Group 1- The Vanguard A boat that is similar in shape to t o d a y ' s r a c i n g b o a t. Group 2- The Reserve Army The rowing boats traveled two abreast. Group 3- Bassak Army A large boat with a roof structure, fixed oars and sail. This
boat is similar in shape to the traditional “Junk” used on the Bassak. The boat was used primarily to store the army's supplies.
The navy was headed by the King on Earth and King Tranh who directed four ministers “Four Columns”. During the period of the full moon in November the four ministers mobilised their troops for a campaign for one day and one night. The navy was ordered to a boat race on the river Peam Kanthao in Khet Kleang at a junction of the river. The three-day Water festival o f t h e reversal of the waters o f t h e Great Lake i s c e l ebrated in October or November d e p e n ding on when the w a t e r s reverse and flow
back into the Mekong River. Boat races, the largest part of the festival, are held at the capital, Phnom Penh. Each village has the opportunity to join in the boat races and usually they do. The boats are usually dugout canoes with a prow and stern that curve upward. The boats are elaborately decorated and carved to represent the village. The prow is painted with a large eye like those that decorated the war vessels of ancient times. A boat can have as many as 40 rowers. Pairs of boats race each other for the first two days. A race including all the canoes takes place on the last day of the festival. The purpose of this race is to make the god of the river happy so that there will be many fish and the rice
Continued page 2