AKP Phnom Penh, October 09, 2025 --

Hundreds of devotees gathered this morning at Sovan Sikharam (Prey Chan Pagoda) in a solemn religious ceremony, where some 400 Buddhist monks presided to honour Cambodia’s fallen soldiers and ancestral spirits.

The ceremony, held in O’ Beichoan commune, O’ Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province this morning was convened to dedicate religious merit to the souls of national heroes who sacrificed their lives in defence of the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The event, underscored the Buddhist virtue of gratitude to the soldiers' supreme sacrifices and led the assembly in prayers for the peaceful repose of the departed souls. The Buddhist monks further called on all Buddhists to uphold moral traditions and to join in prayers for the Kingdom’s continued peace, stability, and prosperity.

Participants expressed profound respect for the soldiers' bravery, particularly those who fell in defence of the border regions. They shared a collective belief that their merit-making would foster national harmony and serve as a spiritual safeguard for the nation.

More than a significant Buddhist observance, the ceremony stood as a historic testament to the unity of the Cambodian people—in both faith and national spirit—paying homage to the patriotism of those who sacrificed their flesh and bloods for the motherland.

By K. Rithy Reak