For the past 15 days, the streets of Bukit Mertajam in Penang have been filled with families, devotees, and visitors from across Malaysia and neighboring countries to observe the Hungry Ghost Festival, a traditional Chinese celebration that honors wandering spirits and ancestors.
Roots and purpose of the festival
Lee Kim Fong, the event’s general affairs coordinator, explained that the festival centers on worship of Da Shi Ye, the Guardian God of Ghosts. The tradition dates back to 1888, when a severe plague struck the town and prompted locals to begin venerating the deity for protection. Today, the festival serves a dual purpose: it offers prayers and offerings to spirits who have no living relatives, and it provides a charitable platform for the community.
Massive turnout and the towering effigy
Lee estimates that more than 10,000 people attended the final burning ceremony, with peak crowds reaching 20,000. The centerpiece of the celebration is a paper‑and‑bamboo effigy of Da Shi Ye that grows taller each year. In 2026 the figure stood 8.9 meters (about 29 feet) high. Veteran craftsman Ng Chi Wong, 69, has spent over four decades constructing the massive structure. He and a small team of seven or eight artisans work for roughly six weeks, shaping the head first, then the frame, body, and outer layers, all guided by memory rather than formal drawings.
Spiritual significance
Lim Han Cong, a University of Malaya graduate in Chinese studies, described the festival as a complement to Qingming (Tomb‑Sweeping Day). While Qingming focuses on one’s own ancestors, the Hungry Ghost Festival extends care to unclaimed dead, reflecting a blend of Buddhist, Taoist, and folk beliefs. Taoist priests recite sacred scriptures and perform rites intended to bring peace and salvation to those without descendants.
Community impact and charitable work
Since the 1970s, the festival has incorporated charitable activities such as auctions of blessed items and fundraising for schools. Money raised this year will support medical‑needs assistance and Chinese‑language education in the region. Organizers have also introduced online worship, allowing overseas devotees to participate remotely.
Preserving a cultural legacy
Lee emphasized that the festival is a cultural inheritance passed down for more than a century. As descendants of the Chinese community in Penang, participants feel a responsibility to preserve the tradition and its moral message: the living and the dead remain connected through enduring bonds, and the living must honor and support the deceased.
The celebration was documented from August 14 to August 29, and organizers plan to share the footage on Facebook so a global audience can witness the ceremony.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
