Tracing Cambodia’s Water Festival: A Journey Through French Colonial Archives

The text delves into the historical origins of Cambodia’s Water Festival, a tradition deeply rooted in the country’s culture. Through an analysis of French colonial archives, it highlights early mentions of the event in 19th-century travel accounts and photographs. Figures like Louis Delaporte, Emile Gsell, and Jean Moura documented the festival, emphasizing its significance as a major celebration and its possible connection to the iconic Angkor Wat site.