The document summarizes the Khmer tradition of Pithi Chol Mlub, a rite of passage ceremony for Khmer girls entering womanhood. The ceremony involves secluding the girl in the home for 3-6 months to teach her morality, virtues of womanhood, and domestic skills. During this time she follows strict rules and wears traditional clothing. At the end of the ceremony, the girl's family celebrates her completion with a multi-day festival inviting the community. While still practiced in some rural areas, the ceremony has declined with modern education being equally available to both genders.

1. University of Cambodia
Lectured by:
Mut Somoeun, M.Ed
KHM 140: Khmer Culture

2. Pithi Chol Mlub

3. History of the Chol Mlub
• Legend/ folk tale
–A single wild thief/ Me Cho Prey
–A young girl (adult girl/ puberty girl)
–An old midwife/ nanny

4. • Chol Mlub is a rite of passage and means to enter
the shadow Chol means enter and Mlub refers to
the shadow).
• In another way, Chol Mlub would be called the
in-house education
• This ceremony is only celebrated for the daughter
of the family (generally the oldest daughter).

5. Main Purposes of the Ceremony
• To educate morality, virtue, and right behavior
• To make the daughter become a beautiful girl and
complete the attractive complexion
• To appeal to the general public that the girl is
completely becoming an adult and ready to get married
(be a future wife and mother)
• To give credit and honor to the family

6. • The girl needs to learn many things, such as rules of
conduct for women, housewifery, taking care of
children, weaving, recipes and how to behave with
other people.
• She has to wear a long sleeved shirt and a long skirt.
• At nighttime, she has to make up powder and saffron
on her body.

7. Duration of the Ceremony
• In the past, Chol Mlub depends on the family’s
wealth and the number of members in the family
• It usually takes from between three to six months
• Presently, the duration of the event is shortened to
between one week or three months,

8. Taboo and Three Levels of The
Ceremony
• Strict level (Highest level): Requires the girl to
stay only in house (closed room) and not allowed
to eat all meat products
• Middle Level: Allowed to get outside the house
(land on earth ground) and can work the light
tasks but no eating all meat products
• Lowest Level: Can work and eat normal food but
only in the house and shadow

9. Getting in the Ceremony (Pithi
Chol Mlub)
• Informing relatives, and villagers
• Paying homage to ancestors’ spirits, gods, and
all other spirits
• Planting a banana tree, vegetables, raise
chicken, etc. for preparation in the day of
getting out of the event
• Listening to old people’s advices, study code
of conduct, mind cultivation
• Maintaining the five basic precepts of
Buddhism

11. Get Out the Ceremony (Pithi Chenh)
• Inviting relatives, and old people
• Duration: 2 days and 1 night
• Pithi: Kat Sork, Sot Morn, Sen Pren, Bok Leak
(Rok Leak, Kat Tbal, Bok Leak), Tver Tmenh,
Dek Angkor Reap (Bongvel Popel and Chong
Dai) Sar Kantel (singer appeals to sell and the girl
buy it)

13. Mindset
• In the past, girls were not allowed to go to
school because all schools were located in
pagodas and most of the teachers were monks
• Some families did not want their daughters go
to school where might lead their daughter bad
• Many people believed that the home was the
best place to educate girls at that time

14. Note
• Nowadays, there are a few places; for
example, in Batheay (K.Cham), Sre Ambel
district (Koh Kong) and also Pea Raing district
(Prey Veng), and Sot Nikum (Siem Reap) still
maintain this ceremony

15. Main Reasons of Not Celebrating
The Event Today
• Education is equally provided to boys and girls
• Modernize the ways making beauty/ complexion
(makeups,…)
• Family’s economics
• Available time
• Open access of relationship

16. Thank for Attention!
• Discussions
• Questions
• Answers