The Hungry Ghost Festival

The Hungry Ghost Festival, also know as simply the Ghost Festival, is an annual event both celebrated and commemorated by the Chinese throughout Asia on the 15th night of the seventh month.



On this day, it is said that ghosts and spirits, including that of the ancestors, come out of the  ''Diyu'' (Hell), and roam the place of the living for the rest of the month. Traditionally, descendants would participate in various activities during the month which include preparing ritualistic food offerings, burning incense, and burning joss paper, paper forms of material items such as clothes, gold and other fine goods for the visiting spirits of the ancestors. Meals would be served with empty seats for each of the deceased in the family, treating them as if they are still living.

An alternate version of the festival is also celebrated in Japan, known as O-bon, or simply Bon. It has since been transformed over time into a family reunion holiday during which people from the big cities return to their hometowns and visit, cleaning their ancestors' graves.

The Hungry Ghost Festival can be traced back to the Ullambana Sutra. In this Sutra, the Buddha's disciple Mahamaudgalyayana learned that his mother had been reborn as a Hungry Ghost. He gave her a bowl of food, but before she could eat it, the food became burning coals. Sorrowful, Mahamaudgalyayana went to the Buddha to learn what he could do for her.

The Buddha told Maudgalyayana that on the 15th day of the 7th month, the Sangha should fill clean basins with fruits and other food, along with offerings such as incense and candles. All those complete in the pure precepts and the virtue of the way should come together in a great assembly. The Buddha then instructed the assembled Sangha to place the basins in front of an altar and recite mantras and vows.

Then, seven generations of ancestors will be released from the lower realms, including Hungry Ghosts and that of animals.

We have compiled 15 things here which we believe, are essential points people should look out for during this period of Festivities.

1. Do not hang out late at night.
2. Do not open your umbrella at night, especially red ones.
3. Do not seat on front row chairs, they're reserved for the spirits.
4. Do not whistle or sing at night.
5. Do not kick or step on offerings located by the roadsides. If you do, apologize quickly.
6. Do not wear red shirts around, especially at night.
7. Do not pick up items you find on the ground.
8. Do not hang out clothes at night.
9. Do not comb or wash your hair in the middle of the night.
10. Do not swim during this period of time.
11. Do not take up challenges of entering haunted locations or cemeteries.
12. Do not make jokes or comments regarding the spirits or the festival itself.
13. Do not spit on roads or trees.
14. Do leave a bowl of rice of the deceased in your family during this period.
15. Do try and participate in the burning of offerings for the spirits.

Well, that is it for our cover of the Hungry Ghost Festival. Do look forward to our next coverage! :)

Information & Pictures: Various sources on Google.
Written by: Ryan @ Singapore Haunted.