09/27/2023
Hi Everyone!
Ms. Ho's will be closed for the first 2 weeks of October (1st - 15th) to observe Cambodia's most important Buddhist festival, Pchum Ben also known as Ancestor's Day.
Pchum Ben is a 15 day celebration of remembrance and tribute for Cambodians to pay their respects to their ancestors for up to seven generations. Many Cambodians believe that most living creatures are reincarnated at death, but some souls are prevented from entering a new life because of bad karma and instead they are trapped in the spirit world.
During Pchum Ben, these souls are released to roam and search for their relatives. With Pchum meaning "gather together", families come together during this time to offer food and prayer to these wandering souls. For fourteen days, families visit pagodas to light incense and give offerings and food to the monks who invite the ancestral spirits to join their living relatives to commemorate life.
These offerings help us gain merit which can then be transferred to our ancestors to help guide them on their journey thru the afterlife. The last day is then celebrated with lots of eating, drinking, dancing and games.
"It is a heartfelt tradition that underscores the importance of family, gratitude and respect in Cambodian culture. At its core, it reminds us that family bonds transcend life and death."
❤️
Ms. Ho will be busy preparing her usuals (lemongrass beefsticks/pork belly sticky rice cakes/grilled banana sticky rice cakes) to sell to temple-goers on the final day of Pchum Ben as she does every year. Part of the proceeds are then donated back to the pagoda as always.
