Phnom Penh: One of the biggest traditional Khmer festivals, Kan Ben, is underway. The two-week festival culminates in the three-day national holiday of Pchum Ben. It’s a time for Cambodians to perform rituals for their ancestors and to meet with their families to visit pagodas.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has wished Cambodians well for Kan Ben, but has urged everyone to continue observing the preventative measures against Covid-19. He says authorities at all levels should increase security and ensure public safety, particularly on the roads. Tens of thousands of Cambodians will head to their home provinces over the next two weeks, most especially just ahead of the Pchum Ben holiday.

Over Kan Ben and Pchum Ben, Cambodians visit at least seven different pagodas to offer flowers and food to the monks as a way of honouring their ancestors.