Cambodians celebrate Pchum Ben Festival. Photo: khmertimeskh.com

PHNOM PENH – Pchum Ben, or the Festival of the Ancestors, one of the biggest and most important festivals in Cambodia, is being celebrated across the country.

The entire festival actually carries on for 15 days. During the first 14 days, called Kan Ben, people or villagers take turns offering food to monks in nearby monasteries and pagodas in hope that their gifts will reach the souls of their ancestors, aided by virtue of prayers and sermons conducted by Buddhist monks.

The most important part of the festival occurs on the last day of the Pchum Ben, during which all faithful Cambodian Buddhists, rich as well as poor, prepare food and other offerings for their visits to pagodas.

In a royal message on this occasion, King Norodom Sihamoni wrote that the annual festival has contributed significantly to nurturing the spirit of national unity, love, preservation, protection of traditions and customs, while promoting the Cambodian culture.

The King highlighted the opportunity the festival represents to reunite with families and loved ones near and far.

Government officials, workers, all employees and citizens across the nation have a three-day official holiday from October 1 to 3.

According to the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism, last year approximately 1.89 million local and international tourists visited attractions during the Pchum Ben Festival, a year-on-year increase of 52 per cent. VNA/VNS