Cambodia’s October Holiday: Why You Should Visit Cambodia During Pchum Ben Festival

Bon Pchum Ben (also known as ‘Hungry Ghosts Festival,’ or simply ‘Pchum Ben’) is one of the most unique and distinctive festivals in Cambodia… and you won’t find any other celebration quite like it, anywhere else in the world. 

Sacred and special Bon Pchum Ben is the nation’s much-respected Ancestors’ Festival, and it’s one of Cambodia’s biggest holidays. A multi-day religious festival dating back to the Middle Ages, it always falls during the 10th month of the Khmer calendar (meaning that it occurs during either September or October for us non-Khmer-calendar folks).

The exact structure of the festival is a little confusing, so here’s a quick guide: the main festivities last for only 1 day, which comes after the end of a 14-day holy period. The entirety of Bon Pchum Ben therefore lasts for a lengthy 15 days… but only the final 3 days of those are official public holidays.

That said, different Cambodians celebrate the event in different ways. While some of the nation’s most traditional and religious people still like to mark the entire 15 days, others only really observe the occasion for the final 24 or 72 hours.

In 2025, the main three-day part of the festival will fall on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of September. During these three days, you’ll see families eating, drinking, celebrating, and enjoying time together. But in the 12-day period leading up to these 3 days, you’ll observe small-scale religious events and activities at many of the nation’s temples.

How Do Cambodian People Celebrate Bon Pchum Ben?

Cambodians celebrate Bon Pchum Ben in lots of different ways… and we’ll come to all the details soon. But first, let’s walk you through a basic little language lesson.

In Khmer, the word ‘ben’ roughly translates to two things: ‘to collect,’ and ‘a portion/ball of rice.’ Meanwhile, the word ‘pchum’ means to ‘meet together.’

So we can sort-of say that the ‘Pchum Ben’ meaning roughly translates to some type of meeting where families come together in a rice-related celebration. And although that doesn’t quite tell the full story, it’s a reasonable summary of what happens during the festival. 

Throughout the festival (but especially during the final three days), many Cambodians visit temples and pagodas, usually close to where their ancestors died. They take tightly-packed home-cooked balls of rice… and throw these balls of rice into the air, or on the floor.

What is the Purpose of Bon Pchum Ben?

These rice-hurling actions represent an offering to deceased relatives. In Cambodia, people still have a profound respect for parents, grandparents, and ancestors—and they offer gifts to these people, even many years after they’ve died.

During the entire Bon Pchum Ben period, it’s thought that the souls and spirits of these deceased relatives wait at temples, to eat the food they’re offered. Cambodians believe that some of their relatives are confined to hell, and that the gates of hell are open only during this religious festival—so this is the only time they’re able to feed those who’ve passed away. 

According to local folklore, these spirits will visit seven different temples to find the food they’ve been offered by their still-living relatives. And in return for their tasty offerings, the spirits will bless their living relatives with good luck for the year to come.

In addition to these thrown balls of rice, Cambodians also offer other foods, such as fruits, sweets, cakes, and more. People leave these at temples and pagodas in the belief that their hungry ancestors will enter the material world to greedily munch on the various snacks and morsels.

The most religious Cambodian people honor ancestors all the way back to 7 generations (including people they’ve never even met).

But offerings aren’t only given to dead relatives… gifts and food are also given to temple-dwelling monks (who perform a lengthy ceremonial chant before the festival, to mark the opening of the gates of hell).

As we’ve covered, day 15 of the festival is the most important day of Bon Pchum Ben, and it marks the end of Buddhist Lent. Cambodians visit temples and pagodas on this day, but they also place a big focus on spending time with their still-living relatives. They might eat meals with their families, return to their hometowns, or visit family members who they haven’t seen for a while.

Again, this final day follows two more public holidays. All 3 of these days are laid-back and relaxed, with lots of eating, drinking, dancing and celebrating.

Can I Participate in Bon Pchum Ben?

Yes! Although the festival is a sacred and special holiday, foreigners are still very welcome to spend time at temples during this period. 

Assuming you’re quiet, calm and respectful, you can visit temples during Bon Pchum Ben, and watch the holy activities take place. It’s also a good time to chat with local people, who are always happy to share stories, and tell foreigners about rituals, festivities and traditions. 

Aside from Khmer New Year, Bon Pchum Ben is the most important public holiday in Cambodia, and it can be an excellent time to visit the place.

Which Part of Cambodia Should I Visit for Bon Pchum Ben?

To enjoy the festivities properly, it’s best to visit a smaller part of the nation… where you’ll find many locals, fewer tourists, and lots more tradition. These smaller places are often more religious than the nation’s bigger cities.

Somewhere like Kampot is the perfect location—the laid-back town is quiet and calm, and the festivities aren’t eclipsed by the busy bustle of everyday life (as they often are in bigger-but-brilliant places, such as Phnom Penh and Siem Reap).

If you visit Kampot during Bon Pchum Ben, we have the perfect place to stay, offering a little slice of luxury in the alluring town. We also offer a year-round package of events and activities, including cooking classes, cocktail-making classes, seasonal foods, dining experiences, island trips, and plenty more. 

Bon Pchum Ben is one of six important celebrations in Cambodia. To read more about the other five, wander over to our blog posts on Khmer New Year, Bon Om Tuk (the super-popular Water Festival), Vesak Bochea (Buddhist Day), Victory Over Genocide Day, and Cambodian Independence Day. Thanks for reading!