Thursday, November 15, 2007

3,400 police to safeguard Cambodia's Water Festival

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The municipal government plans to deploy a police force of 3,400 in the capital city for next week's Water Festival, which is expected to attract 3 million people, local media said on Thursday.

In addition, 1,000 street cleaners will be working during the three-day celebration starting on Nov. 23, Deputy Governor Pa Socheatvong was quoted by English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodian Daily as saying.

"People will have lots of things to entertain them during the festival such as night market, concerts and other activities," he said.

According to local reports, over 400 boats will take part in the annual races in the Tonle Sap River before the Royal Palace, which will be the climax of the celebration.

With the traditional Water Festival, the Cambodians mark the ebb tides of the Mekong River and the Tonle Sap River. After the festival, rain season is to end and dry season start.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Yes, I can't wait to stuff my face with all sorts of snacks and palm nut wine on Nov. 23. Yahoo!!!

Damn, just a few days to go seems to take forever!