Today I attended our communities 7^th day funeral ceremony for the late Father King Norodom. In Cambodia when someone dies, 3 funeral ceremonies celebrate their life. The first is a funeral soon after the death that usually focuses around the cremation. Seven days later, another ceremony is held for those that need to travel and could not make the first and then a third 100 days after the death. For the Late King, today’s ceremony was the one 7 days after his death, although he has not yet been cremated.

This ceremony was held all across Cambodia and was treated as a National Holiday. Over the last 7 days of mourning, I have not seen much in my community bringing attention to the King’s death aside from flags at half mast and a few people have been wearing a black ribbon on their shirts. Today, most businesses were closed, and there was no school. Nearly my entire village showed up at the Wat around 8am dressed in white shirts and dark pants, the traditional funeral attire.

Everyone piled in to the Community building. Burning incense was passed out as the Commune Chief made a speech followed by several prayers and a haunting song sung buy a woman recounting the King’s life accomplishments.

Click on the audio file below to her a sample of this song as you scroll down and see more photos.

nClick to Listen to a Woman Singing Song about the King

Then people took turns approaching the King’s portrait on an alter leaving offerings of flowers, gifts, and more burning incense.

 
Moving outside people formed a long line that wrapped around the whole courtyard.

The monks assembled and then processed out of the building and past all the people lined up who made generous financial contributions and offerings of rice that were placed in their Alms bowls.

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