KUCHING: Today marked the first day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, also known as the Ghost Month.
In terms of Western calendar dates, the Ghost Month starts on Aug 19 and ends on Sept 16.
Buddhist and Taoist devotees believe that the gates of hell are flung open during the Ghost Month, allowing the ghosts of the deceased to wander the realm of the living.
On the 15th day of the seventh month, which falls on Sept 2 this year, the Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated.
During the Ghost Month, common activities are being carried out, including the preparation of food offerings and the burning of joss paper, incense, and other paper representation of items such as gold, clothing, houses, and so on.
The Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA) Sarawak branch said that most Buddhist temples would have offerings for spirits throughout this month.
“This is a time when believers pay tribute to their ancestors and burn offerings to appease them.
“Food offerings are also left on sidewalks and at the roadside outside of homes. Be careful when you walk around as it is considered bad to step on or kick the offerings.”
It said that the festival is widely observed in Sarawak, pointing out that the Chinese made up around 24 percent of Sarawak’s population and many of them practised Buddhism or Taoism.
Federation of Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Divisions Chinese Associations president Datuk Richard Wee said that on the actual day of the Hungry Ghost Festival, most devotees and temples here would hold larger scale prayers, offerings, and ceremonies for the deceased.
He said that while individuals could select a suitable date within the month to hold their rituals and prayers, most people and especially temples would abide by the actual date of the 15th day in the seventh month.
“The Hungry Ghost Festival is the (Buddhist and Taoist) equivalent of the Christians’ All Souls’ Day.
“Different places may have different ways of celebrating the Hungry Ghost Festival, but it is in the same month and for the same purpose.”
He said that in Singapore, the festival is even celebrated with performances and auctions. However, he said that mainly prayers and offerings were done in Sarawak.
The Ghost Month and its festivities are observed in numerous Asian countries, including Taiwan, Vietnam and Japan. Similar variations rooted in the same or other religions are also celebrated in India, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and so on.
A different Hungry Ghost Festival during the Covid-19 pandemic
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic this year, Hungry Ghost Festival celebrants must strictly adhere to the standard operating procedure (SOP) approved by the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) to curb the spread of the virus.
This includes a maximum attendance of 250 individuals at any one time, temperature checks, compulsory use of face masks, physical distancing, venue sanitisation and so on.
Temples and organisations celebrating the Hungry Ghost Festival must also first notify the Unit for Other Religion (Unifor).
MBA Sarawak branch said that certain religious activities are allowed, but with restrictions.
Wee said in the past years, there was a tradition at certain temples such as the one on Carpenter Street whereby once the praying and rituals are completed, devotees are allowed to rush forward and take whatever food offerings they could grab.
However, he said the tradition is not allowed this year due to Covid-19.
“Instead, after the offerings and prayers, we will just distribute the offerings to people to take home. No rushing and body contact are allowed.”
The do’s and don’ts
During the Ghost Month and Hungry Ghost Festival, certain pantang or taboos are observed to avoid any undesired incidences.
Generally speaking, Wee said that it is advisable not to hold auspicious events during the seventh month.
“People usually try to avoid events like marriage, moving to a new house, and other such occasions during this month.”
“Don’t try to be funny, don’t make jokes about the dead,” he also cautioned.
Some other frequently applied taboos during the Ghost Month are as follows:
- Do not touch, kick, or move food offerings without permission.
- Do not put chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice, as this resembles joss sticks used for prayers and spirits may mistake this for an offering.
- Keep away from bodies of water, especially at night.
- Avoid staying out late at night as roaming spirits are considered to be at their peak at this time.
- Do not open umbrellas indoors.
- Avoid hanging clothes out at night
