Organiser pleased by turnout at annual Hungry Ghost Fest

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A woman empties a bag of joss papers for burning.

A woman empties a bag of joss papers for burning.

A man burns his incense sticks for a prayer session.

A man burns his incense sticks for a prayer session.

A volunteer prepares the joss papers for the festival.

A volunteer prepares the joss papers for the festival.

Offerings of food being laid out next to hampers for the ‘Qiang Gu’.

Offerings of food being laid out next to hampers for the ‘Qiang Gu’.

Visitors take the opportunity during the festival to snap pictures.

Visitors take the opportunity during the festival to snap pictures.

The faithful pray outside the temple.

The faithful pray outside the temple.

Bags of joss papers ready for burning.

Bags of joss papers ready for burning.

People wait for the ‘Qiang Gu’ to commence. — Photos by Jeffrey Mostapa

People wait for the ‘Qiang Gu’ to commence. — Photos by Jeffrey Mostapa

KUCHING: The Siang Ti Temple’s annual Hungry Ghost Festival drew a big crowd of people, including foreigners, at Carpenter Street here last night, where participants burned joss papers as offerings.

The festival, traditionally known as ‘Yu Lan Jie’ among the Chinese across the globe, is marked on the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar.

By 6.30pm, executive committee members of the Kuching Teochew Association (KTA) gathered at
the stage across the temple for chanting of prayers meant for wandering spirits, followed by continuous burning of joss papers.

Over two hours later, individuals took part in the ‘Qiang Gu’ – an activity which had them scrambling for number tickets thrown in the air by members of the organising committee. Those tickets grabbed entitled them to hampers containing various food items.

KTA vice president Tan Cho Yian said the festival had been held for over a century, ever since their forefathers settled down here following a long journey from Mainland China.

“It is an important tradition carried on by the Teochews who settled in Kuching more than 100 years ago. The festival includes offerings, burning of joss papers and ‘Qiang Gu’.

“Qiang Gu is just an activity to symbolise how ‘hungry ghosts’, especially those not taken care of, would rush to grab food. If you are able to grab something, you would be considered lucky and you are blessed.”

According to Tan, the temple is under the management of the association; hence its executive committee members together with committee members of the temple and volunteers have jointly made the festival a success.

“All the hampers are voluntary contributions from many people. Through offerings and burning of joss papers, may the souls wandering around rest in peace.”

Tan also pointed out that the Kuching Hakka Association (KHA) would host a similar event at the temple tonight.

Asked on KHA picking the same venue, she said: “This is because we believe all our forefathers were here, given that they arrived in big ships from China.”

In Chinese culture, the seventh month is regarded as the ‘Ghost Month’ when souls and spirits, including those of their ancestors, come out from the lower realm.

It is also believed that during this month, the gates of hell are opened up and ghosts are free to roam the earth where they seek food and entertainment. The ‘Ghost Month’ is observed in many other Asian countries including Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Japan, Vietnam and India.

Activities during the month include preparation of ritualistic food offerings, as well as the burning of incense, joss papers and a papier-mache form of material items such as clothes, gold and other fine goods for the visiting spirits of their ancestors.

A large feast is held on the 14th day of the month when people set samples of food on the offering table to please the ghosts and ward off bad luck.

In Singapore and Malaysia, concert-like performances have become a prominent feature of the Hungry Ghost Festival but in Taiwan, it is during this period that people avoid surgery, buying cars, swimming and going out after dark.