Wat
Wat Khmer San Jose
Wat Khmer San Jose (វត្តខ្មែរសេនហូហ្សេ) is a Khmer Buddhist temple on Mervyns Way in San Jose, California.[1][2] It is also known as the San Jose Cambodian Buddhist Society.[2]
History
The Venerable Chum Choeum founded and incorporated the San Jose Cambodian Buddhist Society in 1986, and he served as its abbot until 2016. The Venerable Mahathera Dr. Nandiswara, a Sri Lankan monk, was an important member in the early years. The society first met in a small house at 1833 Luby Drive, San Jose, CA 95133. In 1988 it moved to an old house at 2751 Mervyns Way, San Jose, CA 95127, which it gives as its current location. Work on the present building began in 2008 and was finished in 2010.[2]
Temple directories list the temple at 840 Mervyns Way, including a Temple News listing of October 31, 2011.[1][3]
The society states that it works to preserve Cambodian Buddhist culture, to help Cambodians adjust to life in the United States while keeping their identity, and to serve educational, artistic, religious and charitable purposes.[2]
Religious life
The temple holds Pchum Ben celebrations in the autumn. In 2025 its festival period ran from September 8 to 22, with the main Pchum Ben days on September 20 to 22. For 2026 it scheduled the Kan Ben days from September 27 to October 9, followed by the Pchum Ben celebration on October 10 to 12, from 9 a.m. to noon.[2]