Cambodian Water Festival

1-3 November 2009

Preparing for the Water Festival

	One of the first signs of the impending Water Festival is the erection of VIP viewing stands along the riverfront in front of the Royal Palace. Government officials and political dignitaries probably get most of the tickets, but some of the tickets also find their way to some NGO personnel.
	During the two weeks before the festival, large barges are decorated with symbolic images outlined with hundreds of colored lights.
	These barges are decorated along the far shore of the Tonle Sap River, across from the Royal Palace and the National Museum.
	The United States is probably the most flag-waving country in the world, with flags on government buildings, police uniforms, lapel pins, and many homes. Cambodia is a close second to the US. For the Water Festival hundreds, maybe thousands, of national flags are placed along the major streets.
	Many individuals put up flags at their homes and businesses, too, like this man taking out the flag even before backing the car out of the living room. The flags are something of an anomaly since the Water Festival,although a major national holiday, is not really a patriotic-themed celebration.