Malaysia Hungry Ghost

August 2011
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Ethnic Chinese attend the Hungry Ghost Festival in Kajang, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 05 August 2011.

According to Chinese tradition, the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar is called the ghost month, in which ghosts and spirits are believed to come out from hell to visit earth.

Also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival it is a traditional Chinese festival and holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month by Chinese in many countries During the festival, the Chinese prepare ritualistic food offerings, burn incense, paper-crafts offerings or joss paper and hell bank notes (printed to resemble legal tender bank notes) for the visiting spirits of the ancestors who seek food and entertainment. They believe that during the seventh lunar month, the gates of Hell are open for the ghosts to wander in and be fed in the earthly realm. These ghosts are believed to be ancestors of those who forgot to pay tribute to them after they died, or those who were never given a proper ritual send-off. Chinese opera performances, basing on famous Chinese myths and legends, were staged to entertain the 'guests'. These performances declined in popularity because of the cost of holding such performances. Modern performances, showcasing mostly female singers dressed in fanciful costumes, have since gained popularity. The celebration which can last for days, may culminate with hosting the feast and the burning of paper offerings along with the Guardian God of Ghosts and other deities' effigies in a giant bonfire to signify their sending off to the 'other world'.

Text : Ahmad Yusni/EPA

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Azhar A Rahim
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Tagged: chinese ethnic society hungry ghost culture