This is an offering to the ancestors during Pchum Ben, a ceremony held in mid-October to honor not only deceased family members but all spirits. The bowls are Buddhist alms bowls. Buddhist monks are not allowed to cook so each morning they go from house to house in the village to collect offerings of food in their bowls. This is part Buddhist practice which teaches the monks humility and provides the laity with the opportunity to increase their merit by feeding the monks. During Pchum Ben all souls are free to return to the earth to meet with their ancestors at the temple. The monks’ bowls are lined up on a table and each person places a spoonful of rice in each bowl as an offering to their ancestors.
