Have you heard about "Hungry ghost festival"?

Zhong Yuan Jie (中元节), also known as The Hungry Ghost Festival is a one-of-a-kind occasion filled with vibrant performances, food offerings, and ancestral rites. It reminds us of the connection between the living and the departed, it holds deep cultural and spiritual meaning, honouring and reconciliate restless spirits. 

But what is the Hungry Ghost Festival? Rooted in Asian culture, it is an annual event held to honour and relieve restless spirits. Its origins can be traced back to ancient Buddhist and Taoist beliefs.

According to ghost festival history, the gates of the underworld will be open during the seventh month of the lunar calendar. This allows the deceased to visit the living realm.

During this month-long event, various rituals and traditions take place. Families pay homage to their ancestors by offering food, burning incense, and setting up elaborate altars.

The streets come alive with vibrant performances, including traditional Chinese opera, dance, and puppet shows. Lanterns are lit to guide the spirits, and elaborate paper effigies are burned as offerings.

The legends behind this tradition are basically two. According to the first legend, the Yu Lan Pen Festival originated from the attempt by Mu Lian, a disciple of Buddha, to save his mother from torture in hell. His mother, who was a vegetarian, had consumed meat soup unknowingly, and was condemned to hell for denying it. Mu Lian tried to locate his deceased mother in the netherworld and found her among the hungry ghosts. In one version of the story, Mu Lian tried to feed his starving mother, but the food was grabbed by other hungry ghosts. In another version, he sent her a bowl of rice as an offering, but the food turned into flaming coals before it could enter her mouth. Mu Lian sought help from Buddha, who intervened and taught Mu Lian to make offerings of special prayers and food. Only then was Mu Lian’s mother relieved of her sufferings as a hungry ghost.

The other legend is less known. The legend is about the Dragon King of the Eastern Seas, who was jealous of Li Liang Feng, a famous fortune teller. When Li boastfully claimed that no one could prove his predictions wrong, the Dragon King was infuriated. To discredit Li, he executed a plan which involved disobeying an order from the King of Heaven. Unfortunately, the plan was exposed, and the Dragon King was sentenced to death.

The Dragon King then approached Emperor Tang Taizong for help. Feeling sorry for him, the emperor promised to do what he could and devised a plan to help save the Dragon King’s life. The plan, however, did not succeed. Shortly after his death, the Dragon King again sought Emperor Tang out in a dream. He reproached the emperor for not keeping his promise, which resulted in his plight as a wandering spirit. The very next day, which was the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, Emperor Tang ordered all Buddhist and Taoist priests in the capital to offer prayers, as well as food and drink for the Dragon King, and this marked the beginning of the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Weather you prefer one legend or another, there are also rules or precautions to evaluate! Some, to avoid the attention of wandering souls during the seventh lunar month, don't go out after dark to avoid bumping into evil spirits, or swimming in case one gets dragged away by “water ghosts”. One should also avoid stepping on or kicking offerings placed along the roadside or peeking under the table of an altar, as these actions may incur the wrath of hungry ghosts.


Believers are also warned against wearing red because it is believed that spirits are drawn to the colour. Drugs and alcohol should be avoided too as some people believe that it is easier for ghosts to possess those who are intoxicated. In addition, believers should keep away from walls as ghosts like to stick to them, and also refrain from cutting hair, shaving and hanging clothes outside of the house during the night. Furthermore, activities such as getting married, moving house and buying new vehicles are discouraged during this period.

Sound spooky? It is! So, make sure you finish your dinner on August 17th or a ghost might eat your leftovers!

 

 

Thanks for some credits to Vinpearl Hungry Ghost Festival: A unique occasion of Asian culture (vinpearl.com) and National Library Board Sg Zhong Yuan Jie (Hungry Ghost Festival) (nlb.gov.sg)

 

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