Pjum Ben festival, family time

Pjum Ben festival, family time

 

 

Hello all LGs,​​ I hope you are all well during this time.

I have been away for almost 10days to celebrate Pjum Ben festival (ពិធីបុណ្យភ្ជុំបិណ្យ)  at home with my families. Some pronounce the festival as Pchum Ben, read more here and here for more about the festival itself.

Relaxing time at hometown

 

It is also known as the ancestors’ festival, a religious festival celebrated by Buddhists, perhaps only in Cambodia. It must be the longest festivals in Cambodia, lasting for 15 days with 14 days is Dak Ben days and 1 last day is Pchum Ben day. The celebration is celebrated Cambodia-wide among Cambodians and Cambodian living overseas between September and Octobers (based on Khmer Calendar). Families would cook extra ordinary and special food, making Ansom cakes and take turn to go the temples (for 14days). Day 15th, the biggest day - the gathering days.

• It is time for families, food, tradition and religion. You will see lots of cakes, meetings, festivals and offerings around Cambodia.
• It is a Public Holiday. Workplace allows its staff 3 days off during this time. Colleagues may go to the temple together during weekends during the 14days. The last day, everyone goes back to their hometown to celebrate the festivals with the family.
• We have 15 days to go to the temple/pagoda to offer food to the monk in order to dedicate them to deceased relatives and families. The monks stay at the temple for 3 months during Buddhist Lents.
• The last day of the festival is the biggest day, almost all Cambodians go to the temple to offer food, meal, money and drinks to their beloved members who have passed away. 
• Hometown is where people will go this time.
• I notice that this year, there are more people going to the temple than every year, I think perhaps this year people cannot travel abroad so they focus on going to hometown for their ancestors.

I have a series of photos for this.

Families would offer food to ancestors at home before inviting them to the temple. The offer usually0 contents of meal (two to three types, soup or just normal), dessert and sweet and fruits and drinksBangsokol (offering ritual) to deceased ancestors at the family stupagoing to temple with familiesRelaxing at home - raining almost everyday during this time.Food and cakes makingTemple at my hometownLast day - more people go to the pagoda.Relaxing at home with animals