Cambodia Expats Online: Forum | News | Information | Blog

In the morning there is often a procession of usually middle aged matrons going to the wat at the end of street 172.

They wear white sashes tied diagonally across the trunk, and they carry containers of food.

The food may be a donation to the monks but does anyone know about the sashes?

Sounds like old dears in traditional attire for Pchum Ben. I like it. Monks will also eat meat donated to them, if they are not killing it or preparing it themselves. The gates of hell have opened.

Splashback wrote: ↑Sun Sep 30, 2018 10:28 pm Sounds like old dears in traditional attire for Pchum Ben. I like it. Monks will also eat meat donated to them, if they are not killing it or preparing it themselves.

The gates of hell have opened.

Take my word for it. The gates of hell are always open.

Pchum Ben marks the time they are open. You’re probably funnier when you know what you’re talking about.

fax wrote: ↑Mon Oct 01, 2018 5:37 am Pchum Ben marks the time they are open. You’re probably funnier when you know what you’re talking about.

Ok, we are making progress.
It is a Buddhist or local ceremony called Pchum Ben.
What does the ceremony stand for and why do mainly middle aged women seem to be doing it?
No men.

From Wikipedia:
"Pchum Ben (Khmer: បុណ្យភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌ; "Ancestors' Day") is a 15-day Cambodian religious festival, culminating in celebrations on the 15th day of the tenth month in the Khmer calendar, at the end of the Buddhist lent, Vassa.[1][2] In 2013, the national holiday fell on 03, 04, 5 October in the Gregorian calendar,[3] the 2015 season began on 23 September and ends on 12 October.

The day is a time when many Cambodians pay their respects to deceased relatives of up to 7 generations.[4] Monks chant the suttas in Pali language overnight (continuously, without sleeping) in prelude to the gates of hell opening, an event that is presumed to occur once a year, and is linked to the cosmology of King Yama originating in the Pali Canon. During this period, the gates of hell are opened and ghosts of the dead (preta) are presumed to be especially active. In order to combat this, food-offerings are made to benefit them, some of these ghosts having the opportunity to end their period of purgation, whereas others are imagined to leave hell temporarily, to then return to endure more suffering; without much explanation, relatives who are not in hell (who are in heaven or otherwise reincarnated) are also generally imagined to benefit from the ceremonies. "

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pchum_Ben

What is Pchum Ben ?
cambodian-culture-and-language/what-pch ... chum%20ben

Photos from Rozzieoz, Sihanoukville, 2016
cambodian-culture-and-language/pchum-be ... chum%20ben

Pchum Ben 2018
cambodian-culture-and-language/pchum-be ... chum%20ben

So few men go because men are probably afraid the demons will drag them down into hell.

fax wrote: ↑Mon Oct 01, 2018 5:37 am Pchum Ben marks the time they are open.

You’re probably funnier when you know what you’re talking about.

God wrote: ↑Mon Oct 01, 2018 5:22 am

Splashback wrote: ↑Sun Sep 30, 2018 10:28 pm Sounds like old dears in traditional attire for Pchum Ben. I like it. Monks will also eat meat donated to them, if they are not killing it or preparing it themselves.

The gates of hell have opened.

Take my word for it. The gates of hell are always open.

When God says the Gates of Hell are always open he means for all religions and all people , not just those who attend a Pchum Ben .

Best you read The Bible, then you will know what we both are talking about.

don't be angering God, people- it never ends well
he can be capricious too

Multipox wrote: ↑Tue Oct 02, 2018 9:09 pm So few men go because men are probably afraid the demons will drag them down into hell.

Most blokes are probably in monk robes? Those women are nuns, maechis.

God wrote: ↑Wed Oct 03, 2018 5:38 am Best you read The Bible, then you will know what we both are talking about.

My bad, I thought this was a thread about Pchum Ben!