Hungry Ghost Festival
No, this is not a title of a 3 rate horror movie. Actually, this is a tradition that is still celebrated till this day. To learn more about what the Hungry Ghost Festival is about, you only need to walk the streets of Georgetown during the 7th month of the Lunar calendar.
Hungry Ghost Festival
Date: 27-24 August
Venue: Along Streets of Penang mainly George Town
Talk about the visiting spirit of ancestors, here is another similar celebration. The Hungry Ghost Festival takes place during the 7th Lunar month according to the Chinese calendar.
It is believed that the Gates of Hell will be opened during the 7th month, giving spirits and ghost a break, allowing them to come back for a visit.
Temporary alters, brightly coloured giant paper statues starts to pop-up on major streets in George Town where devotees would come to offer food and giants joss sticks.
These alters are accompanied by a stage usually at the other end of the street where opera performances, puppet shows and sometimes films will be shown to keep the ghosts, spirits as well as people entertained at night.
The festival runs for the entire month and depending on contributions from local business and individuals, different shows are sometime arranged. Live Chinese operas and puppet shows can be staged in succession on temporary bamboo or steel stages.
For the screening of movies, giant white canvas can be seen in the evening showing Chinese action flicks and famous Chinese ghost movies.
Related Links
Hungry Ghost Are Sated and Stimulated in Penang by Carol O’Donnell on Huffington Post
