Did You Know?
In Khmer, the festival's name literally means "balled rice gathering", a reference to the rice offerings that are central to the ceremonies.
Pchum Ben
🇰🇠Cambodia
- Public Holiday
- Countrywide
- Fixed date
Overview
Pchum Ben is a 15-day Cambodian religious festival for honouring the dead. It ends on the 15th day of the tenth month of the Khmer calendar, at the close of the Buddhist Lent, and is a time when many Cambodians pay respects to deceased relatives.
What It Is
During the festival, many Cambodians visit pagodas to make food offerings and pray for deceased relatives, often reaching back up to seven generations. Monks chant Pali suttas, including through the night, and the offerings are meant to benefit the departed. The festival runs for 15 days and culminates on the final day, which is a public holiday in Cambodia.
Why It Matters
Pchum Ben is rooted in Buddhist cosmology and the belief that, once a year, the gates of hell open and the spirits of ancestors are especially active, a belief linked to the figure of King Yama. Offerings made by the living are thought to help these spirits, giving some a chance to end their suffering and others a temporary respite. The festival therefore expresses family duty and gratitude toward ancestors, and it connects each generation to those who came before.
Countries Celebrating
1 country
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