After a three-year hiatus triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cambodia’s highly anticipated Water Festival made a triumphant return on Sunday.

The festival, renowned as the country’s grandest, attracted tens of thousands of oarsmen and spectators from all corners of the Southeast Asian nation to the riverfront in Phnom Penh.

The focal point of the three-day celebration is the exhilarating boat race, captivating crowds with 337 participating boats carrying approximately 20,417 crew members, as confirmed by Bou Chumserey, vice chairman of the boat-racing technical control committee.

He told Xinhua “Oarsmen will race their boats along a 1.7-km-stretch of the Tonle Sap river that runs in front of the royal palace.

“The boat race honours the strength of the powerful Khmer marine forces during the ancient Khmer Empire in the late 11th century.”

Furthermore, the festival commemorates the conclusion of the yearly rainy season and celebrates the extraordinary reversal flow of the Tonle Sap River, which links the Tonle Sap Lake with the Mekong River, stated the official.

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, alongside Prime Minister Hun Manet and other esteemed dignitaries, is scheduled to observe the boat races from a stage specially erected on the riverbank in front of the royal palace.

Beyond the daytime regatta spectacle, attendees can revel in the nighttime procession of illuminated floats, dazzling fireworks displays, and vibrant concerts,” highlighted the official.

Addressing safety measures, Phnom Penh Municipal Governor Khuong Sreng emphasized that over 10,000 security personnel have been mobilized to safeguard and ensure the safety of festival-goers throughout the three-day holiday, which extends until next Tuesday.

A father of four, Lukman Soladoye, on Tuesday told a Shari’a court in Magajin Gari, Kaduna that he beats his wife, Kemi Soladoye, and their children.

He defended his actions, stating that he resorted to such measures to correct their wrongdoings, emphasizing his love for his family and his desire for their well-being.

The complainant, represented by her counsel B.A Tanko, had sought a divorce due to the continuous assaults.

However, she later reconsidered her decision and opted to reconcile with her husband, settling the matter between them.

She requested the court’s intervention to prevent the defendant from physically harming her and their children.

When questioned by Judge Malam Isiyaku Abdulrahman about stopping the beatings, the defendant agreed to refrain from beating his wife but indicated hesitance in ceasing to beat their children.

The judge advised “If your wife does anything wrong to you, talk to her about it and show your displeasure; you are not supposed to beat your wife.

“As for your children, beating is not the only way to correct a child; always show love and affection to your children, pray for them and advise them.”

The judge assured ongoing oversight of the defendant’s conduct and urged the complainant to report any future assaults by the defendant, emphasizing the court’s readiness to address such incidents promptly.