Smout Khmer: Tom Nougn Pret or Khmer Poem Chanting Reminding of the Dead

Bon Pchum Ben or Khmer Festival for Ancestors is very important occasion for everybody to express their gratitude towards parents and ancestors that those people have granted them life as well as opportunity to achieve many good things in life. The celebration starts from full moon of 10th lunar month to full moon of 11th lunar month or starts from September 26 to October 11 this year (2007). During this 15 days, Cambodian people, young and old, obligate themselves to accumulate goodness through offering (Dana), moral cultivation (Sila) and mindfulness development (Samadhi). Doing so, they can cultivate merits and happiness inside their heart as well as in family, so that they can spread the merits to their beloved ones. Overall, all Cambodians are aware of three essential teachings: to cultivate the good, to cleanse all evils and to purify their own muddy mind.