The Pchum Ben Ghosts have a special position in the spiritual practices of Cambodia. Different from frightening horror stories, these spirits are closely linked with family, memory, and the observance of respect towards ancestors. Each year, at Pchum Ben, which is one of the most important religious festivals in Cambodia, many Khmer people believe that the boundary between the living and the dead grows thinner. On the basis of tradition, the spirits are permitted to leave the underworld and visit the human world temporarily.

To people who are outside Cambodia the notion might sound rather like a ghost story; yet for many Cambodians Pchum Ben is a serious period during which they look after their deceased relatives and those ancestors whom they have forgotten. By making offerings, saying prayers and carrying out acts of merit, families aim to alleviate the suffering of the spirits and assist them in attaining peace.

What is Pchum Ben?

Pchum Ben, which is commonly known as Cambodia’s Ancestors’ Day or as the Festival of the Dead, is a religious observance of fifteen days that takes place towards the end of Buddhist Lent, ending on the fifteenth day of the tenth month in the Khmer calendar. As part of this period, Cambodians pay respect to their deceased relatives, usually showing regard for ancestors going back up to seven generations.

The purpose of the festival is shown by its name: “Pchum” stands for gathering, and “Ben” refers to the rice balls which are used in ritual offerings. During the festival, families go to the pagodas, give money to the monks, offer food, and pray for the dead.

What actually stirs the imagination is the belief as regards the spirits.

When the Gates of Hell Open

It is traditionally believed that during Pchum Ben the gates of the underworld open.

It is believed by many of the traditions of Cambodia that the spirits of the ancestors become more active at this time; in some accounts the souls temporarily leave hell, whereas in others the emphasis is placed on wandering spirits known as hungry ghosts who look for offerings from the living. The chanting of Buddhist prayers all night long is linked to these beliefs and forms part of the religious duties observed during the festival.

These beliefs are closely connected with Buddhist ideas about karma, merit, and rebirth; families carry out good actions and make offerings in the hope that the spiritual advantages will extend to their deceased relatives, who might still be suffering.

One of the reasons why the legend of the Pchum Ben Ghosts remains so powerful today is the link between the living and the dead.

The Hungry Ghosts of Cambodian Tradition

A very interesting feature of the festival is the idea of hungry ghosts.

In the Buddhist cosmology some beings are reborn in a condition of intense hunger and suffering; spirits of this kind, which are generally associated with selfishness, greed or past negative actions, are thought to roam about in order to find relief, and during Pchum Ben rituals involving the making of offerings and the accumulation of merit are carried out with the aim of helping these unfortunate souls.

Certain traditional practices include throwing rice balls before dawn or setting up offerings in particular places. According to folklore, some spirits are unable to accept ordinary food directly and thus rely on these ritual actions.

For centuries the stories have blurred the distinction between religion, folklore, and ghost lore.

Ancient Legends and Forgotten Ancestors

The reason why Pchum Ben has such a strong impact is that it pays attention not only to relatives who are remembered but also to those ancestors who have been forgotten.

It is traditionally believed that certain spirits might not have any descendants left who remember them by name, and festivals such as Pchum Ben are held so that such forgotten souls may still receive compassion and merit.

Several local legends tell of ancestors searching for their living relatives at the festival; some state that spirits roam among the pagodas in the hope of receiving offerings, while others say that ghosts are unable to find their descendants and thus continue to suffer until prayers are made on their behalf. Although these tales form part of the local folklore and cannot be verified as actual events, they are still widely circulated.

What results is a festival that combines remembrance with mystery.

Why Ceremonies Begin Before Dawn

A highly noticeable feature of Pchum Ben is the scene of people assembling before sunrise.

In traditional belief, some spirits are at their most active during the period of darkness just before dawn. To this end, families get up early and take with them food, rice, and offerings to the pagodas. The monks carry out ceremonies, recite chants, and assist in creating merit which can then be dedicated to the deceased relatives.

The atmosphere is both serious and mysterious.

Candlelight flickers.

Incense fills the air.

To many of the participants it seems as though the realms of the living and the dead very briefly coincide.

The Mystery Behind the Festival

The enduring fascination with Pchum Ben Ghosts comes from a profound question:

What happens after death?

The festival does not attempt to give a full answer to that question; rather, it provides a framework which is based on compassion, remembrance, and a sense of responsibility towards earlier generations.

Anthropologists and historians have observed that Pchum Ben seems to blend Theravada Buddhist beliefs with earlier Khmer ancestor-worship traditions which were present in Cambodia before Buddhism came to be the dominant religion. This conclusion is derived from cultural research and is not something asserted by the traditions themselves.

The way in which the beliefs are combined might be the reason why the festival has both a strong religious character and a rich folkloric element.

Why Pchum Ben Still Captivates Cambodia

Today Pchum Ben is one of the most important spiritual festivals in Cambodia, with families travelling long distances to get back to their homes, the pagodas being filled with worshippers and the old traditions continuing side by side with modern life.

It is a sacred duty for them who believe. To cultural observers it is a remarkable instance of living heritage. For those who are interested in folklore, it is one of the most compelling ghost traditions in Southeast Asia. Because during Pchum Ben, Cambodia remembers a powerful possibility: That the dead are never truly gone, and for a few sacred nights each year, they may be listening.

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