Kathen Festival will be held from October 11 to November 8. KT/Chor Sokunthea

PHNOM PENH – With Kanben, Pchum Ben and Kathen festivals just around the corner, the National Committee for Organising National and International Festivals has issued guidelines for the festivals and called on all relevant ministries and institutions to spread the word about the events.

The instructions were made in a three-page letter on August 8 and officially released recently, stating that the Kanben and Pchum Ben festivals are important Buddhist events, and are dedicated to the souls of ancestors who have left this world for the next. This festival is also an opportunity for friends and relatives who come from different backgrounds to get together.

The National Committee for Organising National and International Festivals added that Kathen is a special festival in Buddhism, which is held once a year for 29 days and comes at the end of the three-month rainy season retreat. It is a time of giving, for the laity to express gratitude to Buddhist monks and bring donations to temples, especially new robes for the monks.

Permanent Vice-President and Secretary-General of the National Committee for National and International Festivals Chhin Ketna confirmed that this year, Kanben and Pchum Ben will be held from September 11-25 and the Kathen Festival will be held on October 11 to November 8.

https://1df6675475fd0467166e1b7ab152df2d.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html He said that for Kanben, Pchum Ben and Kathen to be held in accordance with the Buddhist tradition, all ministries, secretariats, institutions, and provincial and municipal administrations must provide information about the two festivals and implement the 3 Don’ts, 3 Dos to prevent the spread of Covid-19 disease.

Ketna added that government buildings in the capital and provinces, factories, schools, public places and homes must be decorated with the national flag, religious flags, royal flags, banners of slogans, and coloured lights.

The National Committee for Organising National and International Festivals has urged authorities at all levels and the organisers of the Kathen Festival to guide and educate young people participating in the Kathen Parade to understand the ceremony. To that end, behaviour that affects the honour of Buddhism is not to be encouraged, such as throwing water bags, throwing water, throwing sugar cane, throwing fruit and throwing other hard objects that disrupt order, lose social order and may lead to accidents.

Ketna has requested the Ministries of Interior and Labour to instruct subordinate units to cooperate in maintaining security, social order, traffic, and creating better conditions for Buddhists during the two festivals.

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SOURCE: Khmer Times , Cambodia Mon, August 15, 2022

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