It’s that time of year again: Cambodian holiday season!
Pchum Ben, which is also known as “ancestor’s day” is the second most important holiday in Cambodian culture besides the Khmer New Year in spring.
Pchum Ben ceremonies last a total of 15 days, the last three of which are national holidays. Families gather at pagodas and offer food and prayers to their ancestors’ spirits, which saves them from bad karma. Through these traditions, families help their deceased ancestors pass on to a better life as well as ensure they don’t get cursed by evil spirits.
Just like every year, lots of our students and beneficiaries spent their breaks from school, university, and work to visit their rural hometowns and partake in traditional ceremonies at local pagodas. It was a time for them to visit their remaining relatives and bond with our found family.
Take a look at how our CYS family celebrated this year’s Pchum Ben!
