So last Saturday (14 August 2010) I pass by nearby shop lots seeing some kind of a festival. It turns out to be the Hungry Ghost Festival. It’s an annual festival held by Chinese – all around the world, I guess – to celebrate ghosts coming to human world.
Why celebrate, you say? Instead of run away scared to hell? Well, it’s more of a respect rather than celebrate. Chinese held this festival to respect those ghosts who might be someone they knew. Dead uncle, long gone grandma, and so on. So there is no need to be scared because there is no ghost it’s just a festival.
According to the legend, they were “released” from hell into our world exactly mid of 7th month of lunar calendar so that they can “enjoy” our offerings, which is a luxury in the underworld. You can imagine the joy, literally. After one full month, they will “return” to the underworld.
At the end of the festival there should be a mega burning spree. Yeah we need to burn them in order to share it to them. But I didn’t stay long enough to see the end of the festival. But here are the shots.
I wonder do we still have this ritual in Indonesia?
only in some parts as i know.
nice one, nice coverage of puchong there!