A City with Fewer People

A 15-day Cambodian religious festival, Pchum Ben (Khmer: បុណ្យភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌ) or Ancestors’ Day is celebrated for the entire 15 days to show to our gratitude and respect towards our ancestors and relatives of up to 7 generations by bringing offers to Buddhist monks at pagodas. The festival usually falls on 03, 04, 05 Octobers in the Gregorian calendar. This year, it fell on 9th October, the 15th day known as the celebration day or the big day of Pchum Ben. It is believed that those 15 days is the period that the hell gates are opened, allowing ghosts or Pret to receive the offers we brings to monks after they chants, and those gates will be closed after 15th day. Though we have no ideas if our ancestors are in hell, we still believe they could benefit from this festival too. Thus, generally, Cambodian people, regardless of the background and living standard, manage to make some food and rice and take it to pagoda.

Apart from that belief, Cambodian people also take this festival as the time to have family reunion. As a matter of fact, Pchum Ben is official holidays and workers are allowed to take 3 days off, making it possible for workers to visit their family and relatives at their hometown, or using those holidays for traveling purposes. Usually, we also show our gratitude to our parents too by giving them some money or buying them groceries. Hence, every year, the city, Phnom Penh is always quiet in almost everywhere. Most shops and restaurants are closed. So, tourists are not recommended to visit the city during this time.

My family often goes on a trip during this festival as our homeland is already the city. However, this year is quite different because we decided to stay in town. First, we believe it would be crowded every part of the tourist sites. Last of all, our babies is still small. So we decided to enjoy delicious cuisines in town instead.