Malaysia's annual Hungry Ghost Festival, a traditional Chinese religious event, is underway in Bukit Mertajam, a city in the northern state of Penang. The festival, which began in mid-August to coincide with the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, honors wandering spirits through a series of rituals aimed at placating those who have no living relatives to tend to them.

The celebration centers on the worship of Da Shi Ye, also known as the Guardian God of Ghosts. According to Lee Kim Fong, general affairs coordinator for the event, the tradition dates back to 1888 when a severe plague struck Bukit Mertajam. Since then, residents have paid homage to Da Shi Ye as part of their efforts to appease restless spirits.

For 15 days, devotees gather to pray and present offerings before a towering effigy of Da Shi Ye constructed from paper and bamboo. The festival culminates in a ceremonial burning of the effigy, which symbolically sends the guardian deity back to the spirit world. This year’s effigy reached 8.9 meters (approximately 29 feet) in height, continuing a tradition of increasing the figure's size by about two inches annually.

The event attracts significant crowds, with Lee estimating attendance at over 10,000 during the burning ceremony, and numbers occasionally swelling to 20,000. Visitors come not only from across Malaysia but also from neighboring countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand. Similar festivals are held in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan.

Ng Chi Wong, a 69-year-old craftsman with more than 40 years’ experience, leads a team responsible for assembling the Da Shi Ye effigy. The construction process, requiring around six weeks, begins with shaping the head—the most intricate part—before erecting the main frame and completing the body with painted outer layers. Ng emphasized that while the craft has seen minor technical improvements over time, a deep understanding of the festival’s traditions and beliefs remains essential.

Academic perspectives underline the cultural significance of the Hungry Ghost Festival within the broader framework of Chinese customs. Lim Han Cong, a master’s graduate in Chinese studies from the University of Malaya, noted that the festival serves as a counterpart to Qingming, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, which is dedicated to honoring one’s ancestors at their gravesites. Unlike Qingming, which focuses on family lineage, the Hungry Ghost Festival extends attention to unclaimed spirits and those who have died in accidents or otherwise lack living descendants to perform rites. Lim described the observance as blending elements of Buddhist, Taoist, and Chinese folk religious beliefs.

Through these enduring practices, the Hungry Ghost Festival remains a vital cultural event, fostering community participation and reverence for both ancestral and wandering spirits.