This tradition is followed as a respect to the spirits of the dead. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month (today). It is believed that the Gates of Hell are opened and the spirits are officially given permission TO VISIT THE MORTAL WORLD for ONE MONTH. During this time, the GHOSTS wander alongside us, the living. Hence, offerings are made - food, cigarettes clothes
and of course money in the form of HELL NOTES. It gets very smoky on this night as many different offerings are burnt at the front and back of houses to appease the deceased. This pix shows leftover unburnt hell notes scattered by the wind in the back lanes.
Everything that is used in the human world
is REPLICATED IN PAPER and 
burnt for them to receive and thus make their after-life more comfortable - like a pair of paper sneakers
to make walking (or hopping as Chinese ghost HOP, NEVER walk!) This festival is taken seriously in Malaysia as this "Hungry Ghost" hopped in for his Covid-19 vaccination with mask and face shield! 
With technology, even paper hand phones, iPad devices and
Covid-19 vaccines are offered for the hungry ghosts! Paper credit cards are also burnt so they can "buy" what they desire. We are all EXTRA CAREFUL during this month!
On a different note and away from ghosts, this enchanting photo of MOTHER and her DAUGHTER carried in a plastic bag was taken in 1987 by Hungarian photographer Attila Manek in Budapest.
Thirty-three (33) YEARS LATER , a still lovely mother and grown-up daughter did a similar post in the same market place minus the plastic bag 🤣 .
Smiling at the recreation. That was one strong plastic bag. Most of ours would have failed.
ReplyDeleteI hope that the Hungry Ghosts are satisfied...
I guess they dont make such strong plastics these days! She was a cute baby and grew up as pretty as her mum.
DeleteIt was really interesting to read about the Hungry Ghost festival and the traditions associated with it. These old beliefs are self-sustaining aren't they, despite the advances in technology? Now if only the tooth fairy would come!
ReplyDeleteI believe the tooth fairy brings money, David! Haha, one could get a good sum of cash from all the teeth we loose.
DeleteWhat an interesting story about the Hungry Ghosts. So, I trust you behave while they are present! :)
ReplyDeleteFunny about the Mom and daughter but it sure looks like Lady Diane in the first photo.
All of us are actually on better behaviour at nights during this month. Even the young generation who declare they do not believe are a bit more cautious abt what they do and say
Deletekak aku suka sekali dengan moment hungry ghost ritual, walau aku menontonnya dari film tapi jadi tahu bagaimana perayaannya
ReplyDeletekalau foto foto yang ada di bawahnya, aku suka yang ibu sedang berbelanja dengan babynya...ibunya tampak anggun mengingatkanku seperti Lady Diana dan babynya very adorable...love!! ^^
I hope people in that special part of the world will not lose the tradition related to the Hungry Ghosts.
ReplyDeleteI would have never thought of a kid carried in a plastic bag. I like both the pictures.
All the best,
Giorgio
I doubt future generations will forget or discard these traditions. Even if they do not do all the necessary for the festivals, I can see these traditions being carried on.
DeleteHaven't seen a child being carried in shopping bag.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe
It sure seems a pretty good trick, groceries and baby carried in one bag. Leaves the other hand free to select fruit and veggies
DeleteThat's a beautiful comparison with the old and new images of the daughter and mother in similar passion! The hungry ghosts festival sounds the same as the ancestor worship in India, offering whatever the deceased liked the most. But I never heard of this festival.
ReplyDeleteThis is really cool post! Thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to see the two mother-daughter photos.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of this tradition before, thank you for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteThat mother is brave carrying the baby in the bag too, I'd be worried the bag would break, haha!
Hope your week is off to a good start :)
Away From The Blue
I love learning about other countrie's customs from those who live there, not from a travel magazine or book... I enjoyed this. Reminds me of our Halloween.
ReplyDeleteHonestly Saya tak ingat festival hungry ghost ini. Ntahlaah, saat masih studied Kat Penang, saya tinggal bersama Chinese family, tapi rasanya dia tak ada sebut tentang festival nih, atau saya yang lupa hahahahaha.
ReplyDeleteAnyw, the back lane reminds me the one which I often passed saat duduk Kat Penang :D. Rinduuu sangat nak balik ke sana. Once the pandemic over, saya nak ajak my kids having vacation to Penang , visiting my campus, and persuade them to study there one day hahahaha