Greener Hungry Ghost Festival
Devotees urged to offer oil candles instead of giant joss sticks
BUKIT MERTAJAM: A Phor Thor (Hungry Ghost Festival) committee in Jalan Pasar is adopting a cleaner and greener approach after seeing thousands of giant joss sticks being burnt during the 137-year-old celebration here.
Bukit Mertajam Tai Su Yeah Festival urn trustee Datuk Peh Weng Khim said they introduced cup-sized oil candles as an alternative to devotees as offerings to Tai Su Yeah (King of Hades).
“Instead of lighting up the 1.5m-tall dragon joss sticks, devo- tees can offer oil candles which are much smaller, cleaner and friendlier to the environment.
“It is cheaper and costs only RM18, compared with the giant joss stick which is pricier. There is now less smoke at the festival site,” he said yesterday.
According to Chinese belief, the spirits enjoy a month-long “vacation” in the human world when the gates of hell are opened during the seventh lunar month, allowing them to roam freely.
It is an age-old tradition to have Chinese opera performances, puppet shows and kotai (stage shows) to entertain the community and wan- dering spirits during the annual festival, which is called Yu Lan in Mandarin or Phor Thor in Hokkien, to ensure a peaceful and prosperous year.
Peh said about 2,000 giant joss sticks were lit last year.
“Although we have limited the height of dragon joss sticks to a maximum of 1.5m, some devotees kept coming back with longer joss sticks and they take a longer time to burn,” he said.
Pertubuhan Perayaan Yu Lan Bukit Mertajam chairman Datuk Tan Cheang Heng, whose organisation is hosting the festival, said every year the organisation chan- nels proceeds to schools and needy groups after the festival.
“Every year, we increase the height of Tai Su Yeah effigy by about 5cm, and it now stands at 8.3m this year.
“The money raised from the festival will be channelled to nine schools, voluntary fire brigades and other needy organisations,” he said.
Tan said they hoped to raise RM100,000 this year, adding that the effigy would be burnt on Monday in a grand send-off.
The month-long festival peaks on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, which falls on Aug 25.
The last day is on Sept 9.