Cambodian Pchum Ben Days – Ancestor Day
Pchum Ben Days
Pchum Ben is a Cambodian annual religious festival. It’s celebrated from the 1st to the 15th day of the waxing moon of the 10th Lunar month, Phutrobot (ភទ្របទ). Pchum means ” gathering together” and Ben means ” offering “. Thus Pchum Ben may translated as Gathering together to make offering. For Cambodian Buddhists believe that after dead, people would involving reincarnation. But for the bad karma that people did during the living, their souls would be stored in hell to receive suffering as punishment. It’s believe that the gates of the hell are opened and the ceased may visit their relatives for 15 days. During this time, foods are offering to the monks (cham hanh) everyday in every pagoda, as it’s the way to generate merit that indirectly benefits the ceased.
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The Cambodian Royal Ploughing Ceremony
Royal Ploughing Ceremony, in Khmer we call Preah Reach Pithi Chort Preah Neang Korl. It’s an ancient royal rite held every year in May, when it’s the beginning of the raining season in Cambodia, also the starting of growing rice season. However, the exact day of the ceremony are different every year. It’s depend on the Khmer Lunar calendar which the ceremony is marked to be held on the 4th of waxing moon of month Visak (month 5 of Khmer calendar) every year.
Veal Preah Mein Square getting ready for the Royal Plughing ceremony. Taken one day before the event.