On the 15th night of 7th month in lunar calendar, the Chinese believes that the gates of hell and heaven are open for the spirit of the deceased to roam freely on the physical world for the entire month which is why it’s called the ghost month. Traditionally practice by Buddhist and Taoist in South East Asia, Japan and China although some places may varied. You can say the festival is parallel to Halloween Day except it’s much creepier than just going around trick or treating and dress up as your favourite character.
RITUALS
Believers of Buddhism and Taoism are required to perform rituals to vindicate the suffering of the souls. During the first day, Taoist and Buddhist monks would organize festive activities and hold ceremonies for invitation and during the last day, the gates of hell and heaven are shut so they will have to drive spirits away with chants. According to custom, food and offerings are offered 3 times a day by putting them on the family’s ancestral tablets on table and incense are burned to appease the spirits. On this night, family gather to have a feast and they would usually leave an empty seat around the dining table for the lost ancestor. You know, ghost gets hungry too after all the wandering.
TRAVELERS BE MINDFUL
If you’re planning to travel to Asia around that month, a heads up, you would notice offerings in front of restaurants and around housing committee. At times, offering are not meant for ancestors but for the wandering homeless soul so they would not disturb the owners. Plates of food, joss sticks and metal bins are left by the side walk or nearby trees. People would usually burn hell money (like monopoly), paper cars (it is HUGE), paper house, paper servants and even Iphone. Stay away from it if possible and don't bother taking photos. Here’s a little story. My family is Buddhist (I am not) but they don’t really do the rituals. 13 years ago, my brother and I were watching TV in the living room. It was quite late at night when we suddenly heard knocking on the front door. Our house is gated and closed up and we had community security guards about 30 metres away so there’s no way someone could have entered our compound. Our door has this oval see-through glass embedded in the middle. Of course we looked outside but there was no one. This was during the Hungry Ghost festival. Perhaps they came knocking for food.
GHOST GETS BORED
Did you know that spirits seek entertainment too? Live performances such as Chinese Operas and dramas are held to entertain and please the spirits. Usually performed at night with loud music to attract the nearby spirits or human if you want to watch too. The first row of seats are always empty as this is reserved for the spirits. (Ghost privilege smh)
THE DON'Ts
Now this gets interesting, I’m going to touch on taboos. The ‘don’t’ that I’ve been warned countless times when I was younger. Some don’t make sense but beliefs are beliefs.
- Don’t take, trample or touch the food left out. If by accident you disturb the temporary altar, just apologize. I have heard many stories of people facing the spirits wrath.
- Avoid staying out too late at night as you might get followed home, possess or bump into them especially when you’re alone.
- Be careful with what you’re placing on the altar as it considers as offering. There’s an urban legend that goes like this. A mother took her little child to one of the festival events. She placed her child on the table while preparing her offerings. Yup you guess it, the moment she check on her child, the child was pale and dead. I guess they can’t differentiate between food and human?
- Don’t look under the altar during prayer sessions as you might see them feasting.
- Avoid water activities as the vengeful water spirits might drown you. Even jungle trekking too.
- Tossing of coins is part of the ritual so do not pick up any if you stumble upon on the street.
- If heard sobbing, whispering, sudden coldness, a tap on the shoulder or strange fragrant smell, just continue walking without looking around. Do not give attention to it.
- No ghost stories and horror movies especially at night.
- All black everything black is a big NO. It is said the unseen are attracted to dark colors...or black just represent negatives.
- Visiting the hospital or funeral is considered inauspicious.
- ………. And many more !
HISTORY
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The Buddhist in China claimed that the Hungry Ghost Festival was originated with canonical scriptures of Buddhism. However the aspect of ceremonies seem to reflect of Chinese local folk traditions. The claims might seem uncertain but similar cultural belief that’s celebrated by other countries seem to date back before Buddha. There’s also a local folklore of King Yama, the king of hell (DBZ Fans ?!) being touched after witnessing a transcended monk’s devotion to meet his mother in hell and eventually leads to releasing the tortured spirits annually to enjoy sacrifices on Earth.
THOUGHTS
Fun fact: You wonder where the food goes after serving right? Some people bring it back to eat. I've eaten food and fruits from the offerings and it was literally bland and tasteless WTF. It's as if the taste and essence of the food has been sucked out. The festival might sound ridiculous to most but it’s still heavily practice till this day. I’m not a firm believer of the supernatural but I just take precautions and respect the culture. Better safe than sorry right ? What do you guys think of it? Would you join the locals to experience it?
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