China News Service, Phnom Penh, October 12, Title: Cambodian people and international tourists spend the traditional "Day of the Dead"
Author Zhang Yanlin
"We have been to Kampot and Kep provinces in the past few days, and we feel that these two places have changed a lot. The infrastructure is better than before, and the tourism products with traditional Khmer characteristics are also more colorful. As a grand festival for local people to reunite with their families and remember their ancestors, Cambodia's Day of the Dead is attracting more and more international tourists." Nanfang, deputy CEO of Cambodia Securities Company, said on the 12th.
Nanfang is a Chinese who has lived and worked in Cambodia for a long time. The traditional festival of this Southeast Asian country makes her and many foreign tourists feel novel, mysterious and fascinated. Kampot Province, which the South visited this time, received a total of nearly 50,000 domestic and foreign tourists on the 11th, and Siem Reap, a famous tourist destination, welcomed a large number of tourists.
The Cambodian Day of the Dead is held every year from October 1st to 15th in the Buddhist calendar. October 10th to 12th this year is a statutory paid public holiday for the Day of the Dead. During the festival, believers from all over the country rush to local temples with their families to pay homage to the monks, remember their ancestors, worship Buddha and pray for blessings.
For the past few days, there have been fewer cars and fewer people on the streets of Phnom Penh. The noisy city is quieter than usual, but the temples, large and small, are a lively scene. At 9 a.m. on October 11, the reporter saw at the Unalom Temple in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, that many local people wearing white plain tops came to the temple with food and various offerings, and gave alms and donations in an orderly manner.
The Hundred Pillars Temple is a temple with a long history in Sembo County, Kratie Province, Cambodia. Beginning on the first day of the Dead Day, believers from all over the world have gathered here. They believe that the merit accumulated through good deeds such as offerings and alms will be returned to deceased relatives and ancestors through monks.
During the Day of the Dead, even the helpless and wandering souls will be worshiped by people. "We will go to the temple around 4 a.m. and sprinkle the glutinous rice balls prepared in advance at the designated place in the temple." said 17-year-old Cambodian college student Tit Allen.
Tiet Allen, who will study at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, also said that in addition to worshiping ancestors, Cambodian people also enjoy the time of reunion with relatives and friends and take family photos in front of Buddha statues.
In order to attend this annual reunion, a large number of people working and living in Phnom Penh gathered on the road back home on October 9. The Phnom Penh City Government will provide a five-day free bus service from the 9th to the 13th of this month to ensure safe and convenient travel for the public. Local friends said that every major traditional festival such as Cambodian New Year and Day of the Dead, the government will provide free bus transportation services for the people.
A large number of security personnel have been deployed in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh and the famous tourist city Siem Reap to ensure the safety of the country’s people and foreign tourists. Phnom Penh city government officials said that this year's Day of the Dead authorities will dispatch more than 500 security personnel, focusing on patrolling and guarding 150 Buddhist temples, major entertainment venues and densely populated areas in the capital.
