The Hungry Ghost Festival, an annual traditional Chinese observance, is currently underway in Bukit Mertajam, Malaysia, where thousands gather to honor ancestors and wandering spirits. The festival, held during the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, began in mid-August this year and continues for 15 days. It centers on the worship of Da Shi Ye, known as the Guardian God of Ghosts, reflecting a practice that dates back to 1888 following a severe plague in the region.
During the festival, devotees offer prayers and present offerings before a large paper-and-bamboo effigy of Da Shi Ye. The celebration reaches its peak with the ceremonial burning of the effigy, which symbolically returns the deity to the spirit world. This year’s effigy stood at 8.9 meters, continuing a tradition of increasing its height by approximately 5 centimeters annually.
Lee Kim Fong, general affairs coordinator for the event, estimated that more than 10,000 people attended this year’s burning ceremony, with crowds peaking around 20,000. The festival aims to care for wandering spirits, particularly those who lack living relatives to perform rites, including those who died in accidents or remain unclaimed.
The Da Shi Ye effigy is meticulously constructed by local artisans led by 69-year-old Ng Chi Wong, who has dedicated over 40 years to the craft. The building process takes about six weeks and involves a small team working without formal blueprints, relying instead on traditional knowledge passed down through experience. Ng emphasized that the construction demands not only technical skill but also a deep understanding of cultural beliefs.
The Hungry Ghost Festival shares cultural parallels with Qingming, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, but while Qingming focuses on honoring one’s ancestors at gravesites, Hungry Ghost extends its reach to all spirits deemed to need assistance. According to Lim Han Cong, a Chinese studies expert from Universiti Malaya, the festival integrates elements from Buddhist, Taoist, and Chinese folk beliefs. Taoist priests lead rites intended to provide comfort and facilitate salvation for the deceased who have no descendants.
Since the 1970s, the festival in Malaysia has evolved to incorporate community-oriented activities such as auctions and fundraising to support local schools and medical assistance efforts. This expansion has made the festival an important occasion for community solidarity among Malaysian Chinese.
To increase accessibility, the organizers have introduced online worship options for devotees abroad or unable to attend in person. The event was professionally documented from August 14 to 29, with plans to share footage online to reach a global audience.
As the festival continues, organizers emphasize the importance of preserving this tradition, which holds cultural and spiritual significance for the Chinese community in Malaysia and beyond.