Sail into a Holi Sesh
Miss the chaos and colour of parties at Back Street Bar? Well, you’re in luck. The sesh is back, and they’re taking the party off the streets (specifically, St 308) and onto the Tonle Sap for Phnom Penh’s first-ever Holi Boat Party! Expect pumping beats, neon-bright colour explosions, and enough drinks to keep the party (and you) afloat all night.
🌈 Wait… What’s Holi?
Holi isn’t just a party—it’s one of the most vibrant festivals in the world. Celebrated across India and almost everywhere that there’s a smattering of Indian diaspora or cultural influence. It’s a day of dancing, drenching your friends in colour, and leaving your worries behind. Traditionally, Holi marks the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil, but here it’s mostly about getting as messy as possible, in all the ways. And now, for the first time, you can experience it on the water.
Sesh on The Water
Recent friction has made it more difficult for Backstreet on Bassac to host the big nights and music events we’ve been accustomed to in recent years. “We’re looking forward to bringing this new experience to the local community and all the people who love and miss Backstreet,” says manager Sanket Shetty, who plans to make this boat party the first of many to come.
🎶 What to Expect
🚢 A Floating Dancefloor – This isn’t just any boat ride. Backstreet is turning the deck into a full-on rave on the river, with DJ Moto dropping everything from Bollywood bangers to bass-heavy club tracks.
🎨 The Ultimate Color Throw – At 9:00 p.m., the air will erupt in a riot of Gulal powder. Wear white and watch yourself transform into a walking, dancing rainbow- like Blue Chilli but different type of powders.
🍻 Drinks & Food on Board – The bar is fully stocked (yes, alcohol included), and there’ll be plenty of food to keep you going.
🌊 A Nighttime River Adventure – Cruise past Phnom Penh’s skyline, party under the stars, and make some technicolor memories or party so hard it is a technicolour blur to you.
👕 What to Wear?
White. Lots of white. The more blank your canvas, the more colourful you’ll end up. But a heads-up—the color washes off your skin after a couple of showers, but your clothes might never be the same.
🎟 Ticket Info
💰 Price: $5 per person (Limited availability!)
🎁 Includes:
✅ 2 packets of Gulal (colored powder)
✅ 1 can of beer
The boat party kicks off from 7pm on Saturday March 22nd, with boats leaving from here, opposite the Night Market on Sisowath Quay (Riverside), Pick-ups will be at 7:00pm and 8:30pm and drop offs 11:00 p.m. & 12:00 a.m. Message Backstreet bar to secure your $5 ticket by the 19th.
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