The Cambodian people consider Phchum Ben festival (Festival of the Dead) seriously. They feel a real obligation to feed their ancestors. According to Buddhist beliefs, the lives that we live, after death, are predicated by the actions that we took when we were living. Minor infractions would be punished with small punishments, such as being an unattractive ghost or having a small mouth. Other punishments more severe could include being crippled or having no mouth at all, and we used to call them “the imps”. We don’t know where they are, but following Buddhist belief, we mostly consider they are in the hell because they could commit offences in the past life. Every year, the King of Hell releases them to come to the Earth to receive food.

The last four days of the festival are public holidays in Cambodia. Most Khmers visited the provinces where they were born, where they had family reunions.
In connection to this solemn event, the centers are always initiated to mobilize the residents who do not go to their native villages to celebrate it. Early in the morning, each center prepares and brings food and dessert to the pagodas to offer to the dead through the prayer of the monks. The more we can go to the pagodas, the more the imps can receive more food and they will receive the blessing and good luck in turn from the dead. If no any sibling goes to offer food, the dead could curse you and you will never recover.

This year, Somaly Mam, Founder and President of AFESIP Cambodia along with Voice for Change team joined the event with staff and residents at Siem Reap center; Mr. Mam Khon, Manager of Tomdy Center, his staff and residents went to many pagodas in the vicinity of the center. As for the 73 children and staff at Somaly House (ex-Kompong Cham Center) Ms Kheng Sochenda celebrated the Dead Festival at the pagodas near to the center.