Cambodia begins to celebrate traditional Pchum Ben festival

21/9/2025 10:56

Cambodia celebrates the three-day traditional Pchum Ben festival, or Ancestor's Day.



In a special video message, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Pchum Ben festival is a Cambodian tradition that has been observed annually since ancient times.



The Prime Minsiter say "It is an occasion that the Cambodian people are engaged in alms-giving and merit making in order to dedicate to their relatives and loved ones who had passed away," . "It is also a joyful occasion for family reunions."



Pchum Ben festival is the second-biggest celebration for Cambodian people after the Lunar New Year.



During the celebrations, the Cambodian Buddhists go to pagodas and make offerings to monks in order to dedicate to their deceased relatives and loved ones.



They believe that everything they offer to the monks will reach their dead ancestors or relatives and in return, the dead will bless them with good luck.



Buddhists account for approximately 95 percent of the kingdom's population of 17 million.