Cambodians bid final farewell to late chief buddhist monk

Hundreds of thousands of mourners have joined the cremation ceremony of Supreme Patriarch General Tep Vong in Phnom Penh.

After being laid in state at Ounalom pagoda for 100 days, the late chief monk was cremated on 3 June at a state cremation site in front of Botum Vattey pagoda in Phnom Penh.

Mr Kong Sanh, 69, from Takeo province, said, “I feel a huge loss. I deeply admire Supreme Patriarch General Tep Vong.”

A long procession through some main streets was organised to bring the body of the chief monk for the cremation ceremony held under the royal presidency of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia.

Ms. Soun Sothea, 70, from Kampong Cham, was overcome by emotion at the loss.

Venerable Tep Vong passed away in Phnom Penh on 26 February 2024, at around 5:40 pm, at the age of 93 years old, due to natural causes.

AKP