Cambodians pay respect to dead relatives in Pchum Ben festival

Cambodians began their traditional 15-day Pchum Ben festival to pay respects to deceased relatives. (Photos: AP)

A Cambodian woman prays with burned incense sticks during celebrations of Pchum Ben, or Ancestors' Day, at a Buddhist pagoda, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

A Cambodian man prays with burned incense sticks during celebrations of Pchum Ben.

Devotees light candles and incense sticks during celebrations of Pchum Ben, or Ancestors' Day, at a Buddhist pagoda.

The day is a time when many Cambodians pay their respects to deceased relatives of up to 7 generations. Monks chant the suttas in Pali language overnight (continuously, without sleeping) in prelude to the gates of hell opening.

A dancer dressed in traditional costume performs during a charity event celebrating Pchum Ben.

Pchum Ben is considered unique to Cambodia, however, there are merit-transference ceremonies that can be closely compared to it in Sri Lanka.

A woman pulls her cart loaded with scraps collected from neighboring villages outside Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. Cambodians continuing their traditional 15-day Pchum Ben festival to pay respects to deceased relatives.