The Khmer’s Festival of the Dead or Pchum Ben (Sen Donta as known in Kampuchea-Krom), as we call it in Khmer is a 15 day festival that honors our ancestors.  Ben in the Khmer language means to collect and pchum means to gather. Together the word represents an important traditional festival of the Khmer people to perform good deeds through the offering of food to the Buddhist monks and be blessed in return by our ancestors. 

Not sure if you should celebrate it or not? Here are six reasons why you should celebrate it.

1. Honor Your Ancestors

We all have ancestors. It could be a recent family member that passed or a great-grandparent you have never met. They once walked the earth but at a different time and perhaps a different place. Remember, it is on the shoulders of our ancestors that we stand and without them, there is no me or you. 

To honor an ancestor is to remember them. You can do this by lighting an incense or candle. Put a fresh vase of flowers by their picture or urn. Or as tradition of the Khmer people, make and offer food to the Buddhist monks at a local Khmer or Khmer Krom temple along with flowers, incense, candles and money.

2. Learn About Your Culture and Traditions

The best way to learn about a culture is to live it. Head to the nearest Khmer temple and ask the elders or the monks why this is an important tradition. For example, did you know that balls of sticky rice, called bai bon (rice) are made and thrown in the early hour of dawn to feed spirits that have no family or did a truly terrible deed? Referred to as “praesch” in the Khmer language, these spirits are thought to be caught in between heaven and hell, stuck on earth. They roam the grounds in the evenings looking for scraps of food. 

3. Get Blessed by Buddhist Monks and Your Ancestors

Buddhist monks are the heart of the Khmer community. They play an important role in helping to maintain the Khmer culture and traditions as well as transmit language to the next generation. During a festival such as Pchum Benh, food is offered first to the monks and then a series of chanting are performed. These ceremonies are important in helping to transfer the food offering as Merit to the ancestor’s spirits. In return, you will be doubly blessed by the monks and your ancestors for your act by of kindness.

4. Honor Your Living Relatives

It is a wonderful opportunity to appreciate and honor our parents, grandparents or relatives as well as elders within our community. Appreciate them by offering food, new clothing, flowers or money. Your act of kindness will be returned by a heartfelt prayer and thanks by our elders.

5. Free Feast Every Night

Who doesn’t like free food? The festival is primarily hosted at the local Khmer temple and each night, a family hosts the event (Kan Ven in Khmer), making a wide array of traditional Khmer food such as num baijok (rice noodles with fish soup) to welcome the guests and community. You get to feast on delicious Khmer desserts such as Ansom Chek (Sticky Rice Banana Cake) or Prahok ktis, a creamy fermented fish dip eaten with vegetables or jasmine rice. Learn more about authentic Khmer food here.

6. Reconnect With Old and Make Friends With the New

Each night of the festival is an opportunity to meet families and friends that you might not have seen in a while. Furthermore, you can also make new friends with members of the community you have never met.

Final Words

Whether you believe in life after death, in the spirits of our ancestors or not, Khmer’s Festival of the Dead is more than just about scary ghosts and candy corns. It is a wonderful opportunity to remember those that passed, eat delicious Khmer food and perform acts of kindness for our elders, monks and community.

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