Ahead of the Pchum Ben celebrations, here some cool tips on how to get ready.

How to remember the Buddhism Bible

We are Buddhist, so we need to understand the word of God. Try to learn it from books or older people when you have some free time. Reading the dharma, or sacred Buddhist texts, will help you to feel at peace and forget your worries. Most importantly, you’ll improve your knowledge of Buddhism and gain respect from other people.

How to cook Bay ben (rice ball)

Have you ever cooked Bay ben (rice balls) to offer to dead people, monks and Buddha during the Pchum Ben ceremony? First of all, you have to shred some coconut meat, then twist it until you get coconut cream. Afterwards, you just have to clean the sticky rice and cook it with the cream before adding a little bit of salt and sugar. And that's it! Once it's well-cooked, it will smell so good you’ll be tempted to eat it before your ancestors.

Make attractive and hygienic food

Sometimes the food we bring to the pagoda is unhygienic. We should clean every utensil with soap, and put all the vegetables, fruit and meat in rice water for 30 minutes to remove the chemicals. While cooking them, clean your hands with soap to make sure it is hygienic. When the food is well-cooked, put it in boxes – and add some flowers for good presentation.

Morality inside the pagoda

We must behave with dignity and morality at the pagoda. At your arrival, you should take off your hat and move very quietly. The pagoda is a sacred worship place, not a place where to have fun. Inside the temple, you have to worship Buddha and respect the monks. Be gentle, so that people around you will treat you with respect.

How to dress for the pagoda

The way we dress at the pagoda is very important. Men can wear long trousers and a shirt, but women usually wear Khmer traditional dresses – they’re not sexy, but they still look very nice. They are made of silk and they come in different colours.