PCHUM BEN DAY
Pchum Ben Day or festival of the Death is one of the most important culturally significant festivals of Cambodia. Based on the lunar calendar, this festival is usually held between late September to mid-October for 15 days but the exact date defers year to year as determined by the lunar calendar. Cambodian people celebrates from generation to generation and never misses it in commemoration of the spirits of the dead.
What does Pchum Ben Festival mean in Buddhism?
Pchum Ben is a very big ceremony for Buddhist. In the Khmer language, Pchum or Brochum means “a meeting or gathering”. Ben means “a ball of something”, such as rice or meat. The Pchum Ben festival originated in the Angkorian era when people followed animism, before Braham or Buddhism. Both Buddhism and animism reflect Khmer respect and remembrance for their ancestors.
During Pchum Ben, Cambodians bring food to the pagodas for the monks. They believe that offering of food brings merit to their ancestors and the food they bring is directly transferred to their ancestor’s bellies through the monk that eats the food or by throwing snacks like rice balls into a field. Monks receives the food and then bless the soul of the deceased in return.
During 15 days of Pchum Ben, it is believed that the poorest spirits among the ancestors, called Preth, were released from the spirit world look to find their living relatives or to visit living members of the family — these can be spirits that have bad karma or those that have died a violent or unexpected death. During the year, they are the prisoners in hell and released once a year to look for their surviving relatives and receive the donations. Departed souls are said to be searching in up to seven pagodas for their relatives. It is believed that if the relatives do not offer a gift to the spirit of a relative or close friend then that neglected soul would torment the miser and bring bad luck.
The first 14 days of the Khmer month Pheakta Bot are called Kan Ben. The 15th day is called Brochum Ben or Pchum Ben Day. During Kan Ben, people give Buddhist monks gifts of food and candles. At night Buddhist monks recite a protective prayer. Cambodian artists play traditional music such as yike and lakhon basac. Pchum Ben Day is the biggest celebration. Villagers come from all around to prepare the pagoda of their village the night before the celebration. Pchum Ben is when the villagers gather to celebrate in their villages.
What is Bay Ben?
Bay Ben (balls of rice) are offered to ghosts at dawn. People believe ghosts with heavy sins cannot receive food during the day. Bay ben is made from sticky rice and sesame. Sometimes people add coconut cream to make it more delicious.
Ghosts or Hungry Ghost
There are four kinds of ghosts: those eating pus and blood, burning ghosts who are always hot, hungry ghosts and the Pakrakteaktopak Chivi, who can receive food through the monks. The others cannot receive food from their relatives until their sins are reduced to the level of Pakrakteaktopak Chivi.
If you’d like to visit a pagoda during Pchum Ben, show up early and dress respectfully. This means no shorts and tank tops. If you want to fit in, wear white.
Photos
Photos
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
