| Important Facts about Pchum Ben 2024: 📆 Date: 1st October – 3rd October 2024 âś…No of Days: 15 Days 🥳Public Holiday: 3 Days đź‘šDress code: White funeral color clothing 🍚Bay Bens: Ball of sticky rice cooked in coconut milk |
What Does Pchum Ben Stand For?
Pchum Ben, PhchĹm BÄ•nd or Sen Don Ta in Khmer, means “balled rice gathering” or “offering for ancestors.” After the Khmer New Year in April, the Phchum Ben is an important religious holiday in Cambodia celebrated for 15 days on the 15th day of the 10th month in the Khmer Calendar and the end of Buddhist Lent, Vassa.
What is Pchum Ben Day?
The Cambodian Buddhist believes the ancestor’s soul is released for 15 days. On these days, foods are cooked for the monks to generate merits that will benefit in death.
When in Pchum Ben 2024?
This year, the Pchum Ben festival will be celebrated between 1st October 2024 and 3rd October 2024.
Journeying Amidst Pchum Ben
If you are planning to visit during this auspicious festival, do note that there will be a Cambodia public holiday 2024 from 1-3rd October (Tuesday to Thursday). As people will visit hometowns and reunite with families.Â
Majority of the tourist hub, and sightseeing will be empty because of the public holiday. Shops including malls will be closed. Bus tickets fill up fast as most of the people travel back home, hence it is recommended to book your tickets online in advance. Hotel rooms too are hard to find.Â
Pchum Ben History Timeline
| 1st Century (Mahayana Period) | Pchum Ben and Taoist Ghost festival |
| 802 AD(Angkorian Period) | People followed from Animism to Buddhism and respect for elders as practice continues till date |
| 1181 – 1218(King Jayavarman VII) | A monk came from hell and shared the message from the deceased that they will be free from suffering if the relatives offered foods and alms to monks. |
History of Pchum Ben Festival
It originated as a belief that the day is the return of the deceased ancestors. Now, the celebration has become a social and cultural event for bonding among the community. The legends of Pchum Ben are confusing and complex.
The King’s Relatives Are Guilty
According to legends told by Om Sam Ol a monk from Steung Meancheay Pagoda of Phnom Penh. The tradition of Pchum Ben began when a relative of King Bath Pempeksa broke the religious custom by consuming rice before the monks during a religious ritual. After their death, they converted into evil spirits.
Later, when a monk named Kokak Sonthor gained enlightenment and became the Buddha, the evil spirits asked permission, “When can we eat?” The Buddha said they had to wait for the next Buddha of the Kathakot Buddhist realm. Hence, in the current realm, the evil spirits cannot eat.
When the evil spirits went to the next monk Kamanou after he became Buddha gave the same answer. It continued later to another monk, Kasakbour.
Finally, when Pneah Samphot became a Buddha, he told the evil spirits to wait for their relative – Kind Bath Pempeksa, to give their offerings, and mentioned that with dedication the food will be theirs. But the King did not dedicate any offering to the spirits. Thus the spirits cried all night.
When King Pempeksa went to the Pagoda of Valovan to visit Buddha. The then Buddha told that all his departed relatives were crying demanding food and the offerings must be given in the realm of Kathakot.
So the King made another offering and dedicated all the food and merits to the relatives this time. The evil spirits received the dedication and finally reborn into paradise. From that day onwards, on Pchum Ben day family members offer food to the ancestors to gain some relief.
How to Celebrate Pchum Ben?
Dak Ben: The First 14 Days
The Pchum Ben Festival is for 15 days to honor the previous seven generations of the ancestors. The first 14 days are “Kan Ben” where the families gather at the nearby pagodas to offer food and prayers to their ancestors and save them from bad karma. It is a belief that the spirits of the ancestors wait at the pagodas for their loved ones to have the homemade dishes prepared by their kin.
Ben Thom: The Final Day
The final day i.e. the 15th Day is “Ben Thom”. On this day children prepare lunch for their parents. The families dress up and bring baskets of flowers, while children offer sticky rice cakes to the monks. It is a belief that by offering food and prayers during Pchum Ben the family helps the ancestors pass better life.
A Reminder to Honor Ancestors
Pchum Ben is a powerful reminder to honor the customs and pay respect for the ancestors. Cambodians not only visit pagodas during these 15 days, they also visit during anniversaries, and birthdays of their ancestors to show the relevance in their life.
Although the festival dates back to the middle age it is still one of the most important among the Cambodia holidays. Nowadays students and workers go back to their families to observe the festival and make their offering. It is a heartwarming custom that highlights how family is deeply roots with gratitude and respect for Cambodian culture. Hence if you are in Cambodia during this festival make sure to experience the beauty of Pchum Ben.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans. Pchum Ben is a Buddhist festival.Â
Ans. The Pchum Ben festival is celebrated to honor their ancestors and ensure the well being of their afterlife.Â
Ans. On this day people visit Pagodas, make offerings and food for their ancestors, light candles and pray to their ancestors.Â
Ans. The festival of the dead in Cambodia is called Pchum Ben.Â
Ans. Pchum Ben is the day for ancestors in Cambodia.Â
Ans. By offering food during Pchum Ben the family helps their the ancestors to pass on to the better life and ensure their ancestors do not get angry.
Ans. Pchum Ben is celebrated for 15 days consisting of celebrations on the 15th day on the tenth month of Khmer Calendar at the end of the Buddhist Lent, Vassa.
Ans. Pchum Ben the important holiday in Cambodia is celebrated in October.
