Pchum Ben Prayers for Peace, Prosperity and Reconciliation

Some prayed for their businesses to prosper and for the CPP and CNRP to reconcile, others for peace and development. These and other wishes were made at pagodas across Phnom Penh and the rest of the country on Thursday, as the Pchum Ben festival got underway in earnest. The 15-day-long festival marks the time when the dead—sometimes seven generations back—come to receive offerings from their living relatives. … Chan Sophon, 50, who was waiting with her son and daughter as they prepared food for the monks, said she planned to go to her home province once the ceremony finished. “We commemorate the souls of our ancestors who departed this world to bring us happiness,” she said, “and we also wish all leaders would come together in order to build our country and nation since in the past, our country experienced many wars and the people are sick and tired of it.” The ruling CPP and opposition CNRP have been locked in a political impasse since disputed elections in July. Hin Sila, 18, said he sees Pchum Ben as a way to encourage the younger generation to learn about Cambodia’s culture and traditions. …

 Mech Dara
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/pchum-ben-prayers-for-peace-prosperity-and-reconciliation-44421/