Cambodia kicked off its three-day Pchum Ben festival on Sunday, marking one of the country’s most cherished traditions known as Ancestor’s Day. Families across the nation are gathering to honor their deceased loved ones with rituals that blend faith, food, and fun.
In a heartfelt video message, Prime Minister Hun Manet highlighted how the Pchum Ben festival dates back to ancient times. “Cambodians come together for alms-giving and merit-making to remember relatives and friends who’ve passed away,” he said. “It’s also a happy time for family reunions that strengthen our bonds.”
As the second-largest holiday in Cambodia after the Lunar New Year, Pchum Ben draws millions to Buddhist pagodas. Devout followers, who make up about 95% of the country’s 17 million people, offer rice, fruits, and other gifts to monks. They believe these acts transfer blessings to their ancestors, who in turn bring good luck and protection to the living.
The festival sparks a massive wave of travel, with hundreds of thousands of migrant workers heading home from the bustling capital, Phnom Penh, to provinces nationwide. To ease the journey, the Phnom Penh City Bus Authority rolled out 597 free buses from September 20 to 25. “These services make travel smoother and cut costs for everyone,” Hun Manet added.
Cambodia offered similar support last year during the 2024 Pchum Ben celebrations, held from October 1 to 3. Back then, on the prime minister’s guidance, officials provided 653 free buses to shuttle people to and from their hometowns, helping families focus on the joy of the occasion.
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