Reflection on Pchum Benh Holidays

It is Pchum Benh week in Cambodia! 

By the time you are reading this, we may already be in Kampong Cham, visiting Vandy’s side of the family. Every year, this becomes a familiar journey for us. More than just a holiday, it is a deeply cultural and spiritual season for Khmer people. 

For us as Christians, it is also an opportunity to reflect on God’s grace, to reconnect with relatives, and to quietly live out our faith in a way that shows love and respect while also pointing to the hope we have in Christ. 

Read Previous Posts here:

Why Do Cambodians Celebrate Pchum Ben? 👈

What does it Mean to Live Out my Faith? 👈

This year, as I prepared my heart for these visits, Colossians 3:1 kept coming to mind:

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”

This verse feels so timely during Pchum Benh. While many people are looking back to the past, thinking about their ancestors and the spiritual burdens they carry, we as believers are invited to lift our eyes upward, toward Christ, who gives us living hope that does not fade.

I want to share with you what Pchum Benh is, why it is so important for Cambodians, and how we as Christians can respond with both respect and love. I also want to reflect on how these visits to Kampong Cham are not only about food, traditions, or family obligations, but about letting our lives shine as a testimony of God’s amazing work and grace.

What is Pchum Benh?

Pchum Benh is considered the most important religious festival of the year for Cambodian Buddhists. It is a 15-day observance that culminates in a three-day national holiday. During this time, Cambodians believe that the gates of the underworld are opened, and the spirits of the dead especially those considered as “hungry ghosts” are free to roam the earth.

Families gather at pagodas to bring food offerings, believing that by doing so they can transfer merit to their deceased relatives. The goal is to help those ancestors escape suffering, find a better rebirth, or move toward peace.

For many, Pchum Benh is not simply about tradition. It carries deep emotional weight. It is about love for parents, grandparents, and ancestors. But it is also fueled by fear. There is an unspoken anxiety that if one fails to participate, they are neglecting their family duty and may bring misfortune upon themselves.

It is a time of remembrance, but also of obligation.

The Meaning and Importance for Khmers

When you live in Cambodia, you cannot ignore how central Pchum Benh is in Khmer life. It is everywhere in the streets, the markets, the villages, and the conversations.

At the core, the festival reveals three important aspects of Cambodian culture:

1. Family Duty and Filial Piety
   Cambodians have a strong sense of responsibility toward their parents and ancestors. This is rooted in both cultural values and Buddhist beliefs. Pchum Benh becomes the yearly reminder of that responsibility.

2. Fear of Spirits and the Afterlife
   The belief that spirits are released and must be appeased creates a heavy spiritual atmosphere. Many live in fear that if they do not participate, their ancestors will suffer, and they too might face spiritual consequences.

3. Community and Togetherness
   Families return to their villages, gather at pagodas, and share meals. Even though it is not a “celebration” in the joyful sense, it is still a season of togetherness.

For Vandy’s relatives, this is also the time when they expect us to come home. We may not join in the rituals at the pagoda, but our presence means something. It tells them that we value family, that we honor them, and that we do not forget where we come from. 

Our Family’s Journey During Pchum Benh

When we go to Kampong Cham, the days are filled with meals together, conversations, and long hours sitting under the wooden stilt houses, under the shade of the trees, or sitting by the river sipping freshly squeezed sugar cane juice while listening to stories.

We do not bring food to the pagoda or participate in the rituals. Our faith in Jesus makes it clear that salvation cannot come from offerings or merit-making. But still, our family knows that we come with open hearts, willing to sit with them, share meals, and show love.

David, our son, especially looks forward to these times. He enjoys being with his grandparents and relatives. Even though he is growing up in a Christian household, he is also learning the importance of honoring family and showing respect. That, in itself, is a lesson I am grateful for.

For Vandy’s relatives, our presence matters more than our participation in rituals. They love it when we come to visit. They recognize that we are followers of Christ, and yet they welcome us. That in itself is an open door a quiet testimony that even though we do not share the same beliefs, we share love.

Setting Our Hearts on Things Above

This brings me back to Colossians 3:1.

The world around us during Pchum Benh is heavy with fear, fear of spirits, fear of neglecting ancestors, fear of curses or bad luck. But Paul’s reminder to the believers in Colossae speaks loudly to us here in Cambodia too: Set your hearts on things above.

To set our hearts on things above means to lift our eyes away from fear and obligation, and to rest in the assurance of Christ’s finished work on the cross.

• We do not need to worry about appeasing spirits.

• We do not need to live in fear of neglecting our ancestors.

• We do not need to wonder if we have done enough good works to rescue those who have died.

Instead, we remember our loved ones with gratitude. We honor our parents by loving them in their lifetime. And we put our faith not in rituals but in Jesus, who conquered sin and death.

For me, this is the beauty of the Gospel. It takes away the fear and replaces it with peace. It takes away obligation and replaces it with freedom.

How Christians Can Respond in Love

As believers living in Cambodia, this season is not a time to retreat or hide. It is a time to engage with compassion, love, and understanding.

Here are some ways we can do that:

1. Understand the Heart Behind It
   Instead of mocking or dismissing the practices of Pchum Benh, we can acknowledge that it comes from a place of deep love for family. People want the best for their ancestors. This is not something to laugh at, it is something to understand.

2. Show Respect and Sensitivity
   This is not a festive holiday but a solemn one. As Christians, we can show sensitivity by avoiding behaviors that might seem disrespectful. We can choose instead to show quiet love.

3. Affirm What is Good
   The Bible teaches us to honor our father and mother. When Cambodians express love for their parents and ancestors, we can affirm that desire. It is a reflection of God’s command.

4. Point Gently to the Truth
   The difference is that we do not need to live in fear. We cannot transfer merit to the dead. But we can trust in Jesus, who has already made the way for eternal life. Our hope is not in rituals but in the risen Christ.

5. Be Present in Love
   Sometimes the most powerful witness is simply being present. Ask your neighbors about their families. Listen to their stories. Share a meal with them. These simple acts of kindness open doors for deeper conversations about faith.

A Season of Opportunity

When I look at Pchum Benh now, I see it not only as a cultural or religious event but also as an opportunity.

It is an opportunity for us to reconnect with family.
It is an opportunity for us to show love that reflects Christ.
It is an opportunity to share the Gospel in simple, natural conversations.

I know that it may still be a long journey before every member of Vandy’s family comes to know Jesus. But we do not lose heart. We believe that God is working in His own way, in His own timing. Our role is to remain faithful, to keep showing love, and to keep pointing to the hope we have in Christ.

My Closing Reflection

As I write this, I think about the words of Colossians 3:1 again: “Set your hearts on things above.”

That is what Pchum Benh reminds me of each year. The world around us is full of fear and obligation, but our hearts are lifted toward Christ. We are not bound by fear of death or spirits. We are free in the hope of eternal life with Him.

If you are a Christian living in Cambodia, let this season be a chance to quietly live out your faith with love and respect. If you are not yet a believer, I invite you to consider the hope that Jesus offers, a hope that does not depend on rituals or merit, but on His finished work on the cross.

Let us remember our ancestors with love, honor our parents in their lifetime, and set our hearts above, where Christ is seated, reigning with power and love.

🙏 Prayer

“Lord, thank You for reminding us through Colossians 3:1 to set our hearts on things above. As we go through this Pchum Benh season, help us to show love to our families and relatives, to honor them, and to be a light that reflects Your grace. Give us opportunities to share the Gospel with gentleness and respect. 

Replace fear with peace, and help us to trust in Your finished work on the cross. 

May our lives point to You, the risen Christ. Amen.” 

Blessed Pchum Benh! 
The Hourngs 😍🙏💓