Phnom Penh: Cambodians are getting ready to celebrate Kan Ben. The 14-day festival starts on Wednesday and leads into Pchum Ben next month. These are the days when people make offerings to their ancestors at pagodas.

In the capital on Monday, street vendors are already selling goods for the festival, while others were busy preparing offerings of flowers. During Kan Ben, people give Buddhist monks gifts such as food and candles. Villagers visit their local pagodas to prepare before Pchum Ben, which is the highlight of the festival and is a three-day national holiday.

It sees thousands of people travelling to their home provinces to spend time with their families and honour their ancestors.