Pchum Ben 2010

Thanks to Miss Lady J, I was up at oh-dark-thirty this morning to take some pictures at Wat Ounalom for the upcoming FCC newsletter.

Today marks the first day of Pchum Ben, Cambodia’s grandest religious holiday. It’s somewhat analogous to Mexico’s Day of the Dead festival, but without all the cool skeleton paraphernalia. Or tequila.

Pchum Ben — often clipped to just Pchum (p’CHUME) by the locals — lasts 15 days and culminates with a 3-day public holiday. Buffalo racing, wrestling and other pious endeavors are popular. For more than that, though, you will have to wait for Laura’s story.