water festival

Bon Om Tuk is the famous Cambodian Water Festival that is celebrated every year on the full moon day of the Buddhist calendar month, Kadeuk that according to the English calendar is November. Originally known as Bon Om Touk, Bon Om Tuk, or Bon Om Thook in Khmer; this festival in Cambodia commemorates a prime natural phenomenon of the reverse flow between the Mekong River and Tonle Sap. Geographically, Tonle Sap flows into the Mekong River; but during the rains from June, the Mekong elevates and turns to empty itself into the lake making its size ten times larger. But as soon as the rains depart in November, the level of the river of Mekong falls permitting the current to turn back for pouring the surplus water of Tonle Sap once more into the Mekong. And it is this natural occurrence that is enjoyed as the Cambodia Water Festival with full enthusiasm for three days.