[VIDEO] Never before seen: hungry ghosts and the humans who feed them

THE seventh month of the lunar year in the Chinese tradition is regarded as the Hungry Ghost Month. 

During this period, the gates of hell are opened, freeing spirits and ghosts from the underworld to roam the earth.

It is believed that these spirits and ghosts are hungry as they do not have descendants making offerings to them.  

Consequently, various practices and festivals occur during this month, including devotees burning joss sticks and making food and paper offerings.

Nevertheless, traditionally falling on the fifteenth day, the Hungry Ghost Festival is the most important festival of Hungry Ghost month.

In an exclusive interview, The Vibes Culture and Lifestyle made their way to the Hong Shou Tong Temple in Bukit Jalil to speak with the temple’s association secretary Wong Kum Cheng and to observe this memorable festival up-close.

“This temple has been around for 34 years. However, we only started doing these events in the past decade. This includes the fate (destiny) changing ceremony which goes on for the last three days of the Hungry Ghost month. 

“It is the most requested ceremony by our temple’s devotees, actually,” he asserts. 

Apart from that, it is also during this period, according to Kum Cheng, that the spirit of the nine Gods of Hell will make their rounds to monitor the roaming spirits from hell. While those that become possessed by the Gods' spirit will offer assistance to those living.

The last day of this seventh lunar month is also observed with a special festival where devotees will be sending them off by burning giant paper effigies of the God of the King or also known as the ‘Guardian God of Ghosts’ as this is the day that the gates of hell close. – The Vibes, September 11, 2022