One of the dragons on the giant joss sticks

            The Hungry Ghost Festival which falls during the Seventh Lunar Month is celebrated on a grand scale in Penang.
Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as Yu Lan Festival or Phor Thor, is a traditional Chinese festival in many countries.

During this month, it is believed that the Gates of Hell are thrown open for spirits and ghosts from the nether world to roam freely in search for food. Thus, makeshift altars are erected at roadsides where giant joss sticks are lit. Food offerings are also left along roadsides and street corners, and outside houses. The latter theoretically prevent hungry ghosts from entering residences - after all, with food just waiting outside the door, who needs to go inside? 

Paper devils are burned.  
Paper money, “hell” money  and assorted paper versions of earthly goods like TVs, cars, and furnitureare burned for the souls of the dead to appease them. 

The ghosts in question inspire both pity and fear. The spirits who roam the earth during this time have been denied access to Heaven for some reason, or have no descendants on earth to make offerings on their behalf. 
The former will look for any living being to take their place in Hell. The latter are starved from their year-long stint in Hell, and seek sustenance during their earthly furlough.

The spirits of dead ancestors, though not as needy as the ghosts described above, are also celebrated by their living descendants during this time.
This festival is a very special holiday because they have a huge amount of respect for their ancestors

Staged opera performances and puppet shows are also conducted at these venues for the entertainment of the ghosts, spirits and the public on a nightly basis.
Song stages known as getai are set up, and Chinese opera (phor thor) and puppet shows held for both the living and the dead. Spectators leave the first row empty to accommodate the spirits.

More modern entertainments like karaoke and dance contests are also held on these stages, presumably for the spirits of the more recently deceased.

   

Taken in: Malaysia / Pulau Pinang / Batu Feringgi (show map)

Taken on: August 24, 2013

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