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Hungry Ghost
Festival in Malaysia |
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The Hungry
Ghost Festival is one of five major Chinese observances.
Hungry Ghost Festival falls on the 7th moon, 15th day of the
Chinese Lunar Calendar. The build up to this festive
date begins roughly a week before. Chinese Opera's and
Chinese Puppet Shows are put together for audiences - the
living and the non-living alike, at Temples and certain
Chinese Associations for a week prior to the big day.
The Hungry
Ghost Festival has roots in the Buddhist festival, Ullambana,
and also Daoist culture. In the Tang Dynasty, the Ullambana
and Daoist festivities were combined and celebrated on the
same day. The Ghost Festival has special meaning for all
Buddhists and is one of their most important festivals.
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These performances are more rampant in towns and
villages that are more Chinese (as in race) dominated,
like in Penang, Perak , Malacca etc. With this in mind,
the Hungry Ghost Festival not only pays homage to
ancestors but to all other neglected souls roaming in
between worlds. Just as most would not invite a beggar
into their homes, the same goes for spiritual beggars.
Food for these homeless souls are placed outside and
sometimes prayer sessions are conducted. The feast
usually consist of a variety of meat and delicacies.
Some believers even lay out cigarettes, beer etc for
them.
Prayers are offered to the dead and offerings of food
such as chicken, vegetables, fruits, bean curd, white
rice, bowls of noodles, sweetmeats, cakes and other
treats are placed at street corners and along roadsides
to appease the spirits. You will find food offerings on
street corners all over Penang during the Hungry Ghosts
Month. The Chinese leave these offerings to discourage
the Ghosts from entering their homes and causing trouble
or bringing bad luck.
Shrines are filled with offerings to the dead, Hell
money is burned to provide ancestors with means to
purchase comforts. The Chinese also burn paper houses,
Hell passports and Hell airline tickets, paper
television sets and paper cars such as BMW’s to give to
their dead relatives. Some families feel that these
offerings reach the ghosts and help them live
comfortably in the afterlife. During the “Hungry Ghost
Month” children and young toddlers are kept inside,
especially at night, for fear of them being led away by
the “Hungry Ghosts”. Having a wedding or moving house is
considered bad luck and going to the beach and swimming
is discouraged because many tragedies have taken place
in the sea, and evil ghosts may be eager to take more
lives! The 30th day of the seventh moon is the last day
of the festival. At midnight, the ghosts return to Hell
and the gates are shut after them. Paper offerings and
other goods are burnt in a giant bonfire as a final
gift.
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