Thousands celebrate the Khmer New Year with dancing and water festival
Thousands of Cambodians and foreign tourists celebrated the Khmer New Year in capital Phnom Penh on Saturday (April 13) with songs, dance, and a lot of water.
Large crowds of mostly young men and women, some armed with water guns, gathered at the stage in front of Wat Phnom Historical Resort, bouncing to the beats of the music while firemen sprayed water from the top of the fire trucks to cool them down.
Celebrating the zodiac year of the dragon, craftsmen spent days weaving a bamboo golden dragon statue standing tall at the entrance of the park.
The festivity, which is also celebrated in neighbouring Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, falls at the hottest time of year when temperatures can climb above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
