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PCHUM BEN CEREMONY IN KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA 🇰🇭 🐉

Pchum Ben is Coming soon ! Ansam is khmer traditional cake and the beliefs of the Khmer people’s 

Ansam cake is a cake that almost every Cambodian family always prepares Ansam cake every year during the Khmer New Year, especially Pchum Ben season. In addition to these two festivals, in the wedding ceremony, they always  See also Ansam cakes.

 It is noticed that one or two days before Pchum Ben or Pchum Thom, Cambodians often hurry to prepare Ansam cakes to participate in Pchum Ben.  The cakes that Khmer people like to pack include: Ansamchrouk cake, Ansamchek banana cake, Nomkom cake and so on.

 The meaning of Ansam cake: Ansam according to the dictionary of Samdech Sang Chuon Nath explained that it is the name of a cake made of sour rice packed with fresh leaves, usually using banana leaves with a round shape, equal end, cooked or roasted.  There are many types of Ansam: Ansam Chek, Ansam Dak Nam Chek Nam Vatum, and the whole Ansam.  Ansam Chrouk Ansam puts pork as the core.  Ansam dong Ansam put coconut paste or ripe coconut meat, mix well.  Grilled rice, grilled rice, etc.

 Reasons for the packaging of religious cakes: According to Nom Ansom, some documents say that during the reign of Jayavarman VII, Cambodia was a Brahmin religion, and most of the items and materials were associated with religion, such as cakes.  And so on.  In Brahmanism, Ansam cake represents the penis of Iso, while Nomkom represents the vagina of Uma, the wife of Iso.  That is why we often see this type of cake in the festival accompanied by cakes, which are traditional Khmer cakes as well.

 Because Brahmanical beliefs are ingrained in the minds of all Cambodians, according to Buddhism, there is no such thing as throwing cakes or offering offerings, only Brahmanism, the only Khmer people take the cake Ansamchrouk Ansamchek Nomkom.  These cakes are given back to the monks, which mixes the two religions as we see today.

 Ansam cake has its origins in ancient Khmer history and has been seen in traditional Khmer festivals such as New Year, Pchum Ben, weddings and other religious ceremonies.  The bringing of these cakes to the pagoda on Pchum Ben day comes from this festival, as well as other festivals associated with Hinduism.

 Ansam cake: First, we have to tear the banana leaves or cassava leaves and dry them in the sun to soften the banana leaves.  Then wipe it clean and prepare the string for tying.  Banana stems can be used as a string or a simple string.  Next, the sourdough rice is washed and left to dry, and the sourdough juice is mixed with a little salt to enhance the taste, and the yellow beans are washed and left to soak.  After that, we have to cook the pork as a long offering, usually three layers of pork because it is low in fat, mixed with ingredients such as pepper, salt, garlic and so on.

 Later we can wrap up.  It takes 1 to 2 hours for packing, depending on the amount of rice we are packing.  First we have to spread the banana leaves thickly on top of each other and put rice on the banana leaves, then sprinkle yellow beans on top, then put the pork on top and fold the ends of the two leaves together.

 After packing and going through another stage is tying.  Baking is not easy.  We have to tie it tightly, otherwise when boiling water can get into the cake which can melt the rice.  After tying, we have to boil. Cooking takes about 5 to 6 hours until well cooked.  We have to keep an eye on the fire, we have to watch the fire closely and turn the cake to the other side to cook well.

Especially on the Upcoming Pchum Ben, all Khmer people’s have to make this Ansam to offer and pay tribute to the deceased ancestors and relatives of the seven dead parents.  On the other hand, bok choy is also a wedding ethic.

Articles ASEAN Society & Culture 

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