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Boat crew members train on the waters of the Tonle Sap River on the morning of the first day of the Water Festival on November 13, 2016 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The yearly three-day Water Festival is one of the most important holidays in Cambodia and celebrates the end of the rainy season and the start of the rice harvesting. The Festival also coincides with the Tonle Sap river reversing course, which it does twice a year. Approximately 2 million people are expected to attend this year's festival, during which 259 boats and nearly 20,000 oarsmen will participate in the races. After a fatal stampede resulting in the death of some 353 people during the Water Festival in 2010, it has been cancelled four times over the past five years, with weather used as an official excuse. (Photo by Omar Havana/Getty Images)

Boat crew members train on the waters of the Tonle Sap River on the morning of the first day of the Water Festival on November 13, 2016 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The yearly three-day Water Festival is one of the most important holidays in Cambodia and celebrates the end of the rainy season and the start of the rice harvesting. The Festival also coincides with the Tonle Sap river reversing course, which it does twice a year. Approximately 2 million people are expected to attend this year's festival, during which 259 boats and nearly 20,000 oarsmen will participate in the races. After a fatal stampede resulting in the death of some 353 people during the Water Festival in 2010, it has been cancelled four times over the past five years, with weather used as an official excuse. (Photo by Omar Havana/Getty Images)



People watch as rowers row their boat on the Tonle Sap river during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

People watch as rowers row their boat on the Tonle Sap river during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Ethnic Cham Muslims watch as rowers gather at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Ethnic Cham Muslims watch as rowers gather at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Rowers gather at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Rowers gather at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Rowers gather at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Rowers gather at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Participants row their boats at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Participants row their boats at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



People watch as rowers gather at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

People watch as rowers gather at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Participants row their boats at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Participants row their boats at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Rowers gather at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Rowers gather at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Participants row their boat during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 13, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Participants power their boat on the Tonle Sap river during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 14, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Participants power their boat on the Tonle Sap river during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 14, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



A Buddhist monk prays to participants after they powered their boat on the Tonle Sap river during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 14, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

A Buddhist monk prays to participants after they powered their boat on the Tonle Sap river during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 14, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Participants rest after they powered their boat on the Tonle Sap river during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 14, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Participants rest after they powered their boat on the Tonle Sap river during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 14, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Participants gather at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 14, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Participants gather at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 14, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Participants gather at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 14, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Participants gather at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 14, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Participants row their boats at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 14, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Participants row their boats at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 14, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)



Buddhist monks look on at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 14, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)

Buddhist monks look on at the start of a boat race near the Royal Palace during the annual Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 14, 2016. (Photo by Samrang Pring/Reuters)
15 Nov 2016 11:26:00