CAMBODIA-- PCHUM BEN, THE FESTIVAL OF THE SOULS OF THE DEAD

Posted: 15th October 2006

BATTAMBANG (C.S.C)-- Last September 22, 2006 Cambodia celebrated the traditional FESTIVAL OF THE SOULS OF THE DEAD, which is a special celebration of the Khmer people rooted in this culture since ancient times. In Khmer language it is called PCHUM BEN. This festival is not only rooted in the Buddhist Religion, but also in the “natural Religion” that many Khmer people still follow in our days.

The Catholic communities spread in the three Catholic Church Jurisdictions of Cambodia: Phnom Penh, Battambang and Kompong Cham celebrated this feast, as well, together with all Cambodians. Father Totet Banayal, SJ, the parish priest of Battambang Catholic Community, celebrating with the Catholic Community said to the Christians gathering for this occasion: “Let us make of this “Festival of the Souls of the dead” a celebration of love. Let us pray together in communion with our beloved brothers and sisters who have died and, following our Christian faith. We can be sure those who have died are enjoying now in the presence of God, our common Father in Heaven”.

The Catholic Community of Chomnaom, of the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang, also celebrated the Pchum Ben from September 20 to 21. A special characteristic of this celebration was the participation of a lot of young people from Chomnaom, Svay Sisophon and Battambang communities.

PCHUM BEN in Khmer language means: Pchum: To be together. Ben: refers to the “balls of rice” given to the Buddhists monks, for them to offer to the souls of the dead. Traditionally the Pchum Ben starts 15 days before the big celebration, during which the Khmer people visit the pagodas to ask the Buddhist monks to pray for their dead and to offer goods as a way to clean their hearts from the bad deeds of their past. By this way, the souls of their beloved ones will also have enough food for their journey and will live in peace.

Gathering for the ´Festival of the Souls of the dead´ this year in the Catholic Community of Battambang, the faithfull celebrated the Mass and prayed for their dead: parents, elders and all the ancestors who are now in the presence of God. It was also the occasion to feel the presence of all the Saints of the Church. After the celebration of the Eucharist the whole community came together to share their food and to enjoy a fraternal and joyful meal as a sign of the love among them and as the projection of this Love in Christ to all their neighbors and country fellows.

Ms. Chanthy, a young girl of Chomnaom expressed her joy for her participation in this celebration saying: “We, the young people, are very happy doing this celebration of the Festival of the dead because we like to be always together with the people who have already died. It is also a good opportunity for many young people from different corners of our Prefecture to come together to enjoy, to reflect and to pray”.

Article Source: Catholic Social Communications, Cambodia