Pchum Ben Festival

Prachum Benda, more commonly known as Pchum Ben, is a Cambodian religious festival, culminating in celebrations on the 15th day of the tenth month in the Khmer Calendar. The day is a time when many Cambodians pay their respects to deceased relatives. People cook meals for monks, bring offerings to the temple and throw rice near the temple early in the morning, believing that the ghosts of their ancestors will receive it. Today Clancy’s class went to Wat Langka near the Independence monument on Sihanouk to give offerings to the monks. This Friday to Sunday is the holiday and most Cambodians will return to their villages to pay respects.

Clancy and Nam Fa gave offerings of Banana, Logan, Rambutan and Sugar to the seven monks. The head monk answered the class’s questions and I fielded a few more and some on the way home. Here’s a sample.

Clancy referring to the Statue he saw in the temple and the subsequent conversation:

Who is she? She is a he. He is Buddha. Is he dead? No, he achieved enlightenment and is everywhere in the space around us. What is enlightnenmennenem? He became a god. Do the Astronauts see him? No, but they feel his presence in all the good things. Does he cover around the Earth a little bit? OH look Clancy, there’s some more monks walking down the street!

(Ed. Note: Do not trust the factual quality of any responses to questions)

Video: Monks Blessing