The Hungry Ghost Festival in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, has been celebrated for over 130 years. This festival, rooted in Taoist and Buddhist beliefs, honors the spirits of deceased ancestors who are believed to roam the earth during the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar. The event features various rituals, including offerings of food, paper money, and entertainment like Chinese opera and puppet shows, to appease these spirits. The festival remains a vibrant cultural tradition, attracting both locals and tourists to experience its unique customs.
The festival also hosts the giant effigy of Tai Su Yeah (Chinese version of King of Hades) which will then be paraded in the middle of Jalan Pasar on the night of Aug 20, where it will be burned and “sent back to the other world”, a ritual witnessed by thousands.
