Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – Cambodia's most important traditional festival, "Pchum Ben" (Festival of the Dead), officially kicked off on September 18th, with temples across the country bustling with visitors.
Since September 18th, numerous devotees have flocked to Buddhist temples nationwide to make offerings, listen to monks chanting, and participate in a series of traditional Buddhist rituals. The 15-day festival will last until October 3rd, with the last three days (October 1st to 3rd) being public holidays.
According to Cambodian folk tradition, Pchum Ben is observed annually from the 1st to the 15th of the 10th month of the Buddhist calendar. During these 15 days, around 4:00 AM each morning, devotees gather in the temple halls with offerings such as sticky rice, cakes, bananas, and candles, hands clasped in prayer, listening to the monks chant. This activity not only reflects the believers' remembrance of the deceased but also preserves Cambodia's rich Buddhist culture.
