Written by: Farheen Ahmed
Posted on: August 23, 2021 | 
| 中文
Lotus lanterns in Guangxi, China (credits to China Today)
Since ancient times, the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar* is called the Ghost Month. On the fifteenth night of this month, the Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated across China. Also known as the Zhongyuan Festival, Spirit Festival and Ghost Festival, the festival falls on the 22nd of August this year, and is celebrated in veneration of the dead. Living descendants perform various activities to honor their deceased ancestors and relatives on this day.
An illustration of Mulian and his mother
The origin of the festival is rooted in an ancient tale about Chinese history. There are no records indicating the exact date of the festival’s origin, but Buddhist tradition holds that the incident dates back to the 9th century AD. It revolves around a monk named Mulian and his deceased mother. In her afterlife, Mulian’s mother became a hungry wandering spirit due to her transgressions. Knowing his mother was in a state of unrest, Mulian prayed to the Buddha to help her. He was then instructed to give offerings of food and gifts to some monks on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. Upon receiving his offerings, the monks prayed for Mulian’s mother. Consequently, her suffering ended. The story emphasizes several important social beliefs in Chinese culture, such as devotion to family, filial piety, karma and redemption.
Traditionally, the festival commences at dusk. It is customary for families to put ancestral tablets and keepsakes on a table, and burn incense near them. An elaborate feast is also prepared, and places may be left around the table for the deceased. In keeping with tradition, this feast is usually vegetarian.
Peng Kway
Moreover, a popular delicacy known as peng kway is associated with the Ghost Festival. Peng kway are rice cakes filled with stir-fried rice, peanuts, garlic and shallots. These are dyed pink as a symbol of luck, and are left as offerings for the ancestors. Rice, noodles, tea, candy, wine and peanuts may be offered in addition to peng kway. The belief behind this practice is that food always brings people together.
Practicing kowtow, a sacred praying gesture, and informing ancestors of one’s behavior to receive their blessings, is another tradition of the Ghost Festival. Some people may also observe fasts as a form of worship on the day of the festival.
Floating lotus lanterns (credits to China Daily)
One of the grandest gestures that celebrates the departed ancestors on the Hungry Ghost festival is the floating of water lanterns shaped like lotuses. These are released into lakes and rivers at night, and are meant to light up a path for the wandering spirits so they may be guided back home. In addition to the lotus lanterns, joss paper ingots are crafted and burnt as offerings. Joss paper is believed to have immense value in the afterlife.
Joss Paper
Outside the domestic sphere, people present offerings of food and papier-mâché on the roadside. These are considered charity for wandering spirits who may not have families or surviving loved ones. Additionally, public performances of operas, dramas and burlesque shows are presented in some areas. These are seen as a form of entertainment for the ancestors, and the front row is always kept empty to seat them. The Hungry Ghost Festival celebrates familial bonds by reconnecting people with their ancestors and invoking the spirit of piety. It brings together old generations and new generations through the act of giving. Mulian’s tale continues to serve as a reminder to honor and respect one’s departed family members.
Roadside Offerings
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