Pchum Ben, the authorities are calling for respect for Buddhism

Cambodge Soir

16-09-2008

The Cambodians are celebrating the festival of the death from the 15th until the 30th of September. On this occasion, Mob Sarin, Deputy Governor of Phnom Penh, is asking the officials to cooperate in order to avoid tumult.

The National Festival Committee wants peaceful celebrations. On the occasion of the festival of the death, many problems indeed regularly affect the peaceful development of the ceremonies. This year, Mob Sarin hopes to see a better cooperation between the officials from the Ministry of Cults and the local authorities in order to avoid those events which are contrary to the Buddhist wisdom.

These recommendations concern the last day in particular, called Pchum Ben (the gathering of rice grains). After the 14 days of the Kan Ben period, Pchum Ben starts at four in the morning. The Buddhists go to the nearest pagoda in order to sprinkle the stupas with rice grains, with the collaboration of monks. For the beggars, this is the occasion to test the generosity of the people. But others take advantage of this celebration to cause trouble, alas a common practise these last years.

Besides calling for vigilance, Mob Sarin recommends that people take advantage of the event to pay tribute to the victims of the Pol Pot regime.