What Is the Second Day of the Water Festival?
The Second Day of the Water Festival refers to a specific observance within two significant national water festivals: Bon Om Touk in Cambodia and Thingyan in Myanmar. While both involve water as a central element of celebration and cleansing, they are distinct cultural events with different historical contexts, purposes, and calendar dates. In both instances, the second day is a pivotal period of public celebration and traditional activities.
In Cambodia, the second day of Bon Om Touk is marked by continued boat races, public festivities, and preparations for the evening’s “Loy Krathong” and “Sampeas Preah Khe” ceremonies. In Myanmar, the second day of Thingyan is generally a period of intense public water-throwing and merrymaking, forming part of the larger New Year’s celebrations. Both festivals serve as significant cultural expressions within their respective nations.
History and Origins of the Second Day of the Water Festival
The history of these water festivals is deeply embedded in the cultural and historical narratives of Cambodia and Myanmar.
In Cambodia: Bon Om Touk
Bon Om Touk, the Cambodian Water Festival, has ancient origins, believed to date back to the Khmer Empire. Historical records and carvings from the Bayon Temple depict scenes of naval battles, suggesting that boat racing was a way to commemorate the strength of the Khmer navy under King Jayavarman VII in the 12th century. The festival is intrinsically linked to the extraordinary hydrological phenomenon of the Tonle Sap River, which reverses its flow once a year. This reversal, occurring at the end of the rainy season, brings an abundance of fish and fertile silt, symbolising prosperity and gratitude for the river’s bounty. The festival also marks the conclusion of the rainy season and the beginning of the rice harvest, blending agricultural significance with historical remembrance and natural cycles.
In Myanmar: Thingyan
Thingyan, the Myanmar Water Festival, is the annual New Year festival celebrated across the country, typically in mid-April. Its origins are connected to the Buddhist tradition and the Burmese calendar, derived from the Sanskrit word “Sankranti,” which signifies the sun’s transition from Pisces to Aries. This celestial shift is believed to bring fortune and purification. Historically, the festival evolved from ancient Hindu-Buddhist traditions of cleansing and merit-making. The act of pouring water was initially a gentle ritual of sprinkling scented water on elders and Buddha images to wash away sins and impurities from the past year. Over centuries, this tradition evolved into a widespread public celebration involving vigorous water-throwing, symbolising a collective purification and welcome to the new year.
How the Second Day of the Water Festival Is Celebrated
Celebrations on the second day of these festivals differ significantly, reflecting their unique cultural contexts and traditions.
In Cambodia: Bon Om Touk
On the second day of Bon Om Touk, the focus remains strongly on the traditional boat races held on the Tonle Sap River. Teams from various provinces compete in long, slender boats, propelled by dozens of paddlers, showcasing endurance and skill. The atmosphere along the riverbanks is vibrant, with large crowds gathering to cheer for their teams. Families and friends often picnic together, enjoying traditional Cambodian dishes.
In the evening, the “Loy Krathong” ceremony takes place, where decorated floats carrying candles and incense are launched onto the river. This act is often accompanied by prayers for good fortune and the release of troubles. The “Sampeas Preah Khe” or Salutation to the Moon, also occurs, where people gather to pay homage to the moon, particularly important for farmers. People eat “Ork Ambok,” a traditional snack of pounded rice mixed with coconut and banana, during this ceremony. Fireworks displays often illuminate the night sky, adding to the festive ambience.
In Myanmar: Thingyan
The second day of Thingyan is typically one of the most energetic and boisterous days of the festival. Public water-throwing activities are at their peak. People set up elaborate bamboo or wooden stages (known as pandals) in public areas, equipped with hoses, buckets, and water cannons, from which they douse passers-by. Vehicles often slow down to allow their occupants to be soaked. Children and adults alike participate, using anything from small pails to powerful pressure hoses to spray water on each other.
Musical performances, traditional dances, and general revelry accompany the water-throwing. Streets are filled with laughter, music, and the sounds of splashing water. While the water-throwing is largely for fun, it retains its symbolic meaning of washing away sins and impurities from the old year. Food stalls are prevalent, offering traditional snacks and meals, with Mont Lone Yay Paw (sticky rice balls with palm sugar, served in coconut milk) being a common offering. Despite the widespread merrymaking, some individuals still visit pagodas to make merit and offer prayers, particularly the elderly.
When Is the Second Day of the Water Festival?
The timing of the Second Day of the Water Festival is not fixed on the Gregorian calendar and varies significantly between Cambodia and Myanmar, reflecting their distinct calendrical systems.
In Cambodia, Bon Om Touk is determined by the Khmer lunar calendar and usually occurs over three days, typically in late October or early November. The specific dates shift annually, aligning with the full moon of the Kadeuk month, which marks the reversal of the Tonle Sap River’s flow and the end of the rainy season.
In Myanmar, Thingyan is celebrated over a period of four to five days, according to the Burmese calendar. This usually places the festival in mid-April, leading up to the Burmese New Year. The second day falls within this period of intense water-throwing, with the precise date varying each year based on astronomical calculations and the Burmese calendar’s structure.
Second Day of the Water Festival Key Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public Holiday (in most observed countries for aspects of the festivals) |
| Date | Variable — late October/early November in Cambodia; mid-April in Myanmar |
| Countries | 2 countries (Cambodia, Myanmar) |
| Also known as | Bon Om Touk (Cambodia), Thingyan (Myanmar) |
| Calendar system | Lunar Calendar (Cambodia), Burmese Calendar (Myanmar) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Second Day of the Water Festival?
The Second Day of the Water Festival refers to the central day of two distinct national festivals: Bon Om Touk in Cambodia and Thingyan in Myanmar. Both are multi-day celebrations that feature extensive use of water, though their origins, dates, and specific customs differ.
When is the Second Day of the Water Festival celebrated in Cambodia?
In Cambodia, the Water Festival, or Bon Om Touk, is typically observed over three days, usually in late October or early November. The second day falls on the middle day of this period, with specific dates varying annually based on the Khmer lunar calendar.
When is the Second Day of the Water Festival celebrated in Myanmar?
In Myanmar, the Water Festival, known as Thingyan, is usually a four to five-day event held in mid-April. The second day is one of the main days for public water-throwing and revelry, with its exact date determined by the Burmese calendar.