Scaled-down festival leaves caterers hungry for orders
GEORGE TOWN: With the Phor Thor (Hungry Ghost Festival) celebration in 400 places here either called off, or held on a smaller scale, traditional food caterers for thanksgiving dinners have taken a hit as well.
Caterer Yeap Boon Yang, 35, said there were no orders for the first time since his father started the business more than 45 years ago.
He said to make up for the losses, they had been providing delivery services for their set meals since the movement control order was imposed in March.
“We used to do dinner catering for at least 20 nights throughout the seventh lunar month.
“It would give us a decent income, depending on the number of tables provided. But we do not have any orders this year.
“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, most Phor Thor celebrations in Penang have either been called off or are being celebrated on a smaller scale and there are no stage performances,” he said.
The Phor Thor is probably one of the most hectic periods for the Chinese community in Penang.
But the familiar scenes of makeshift stages set up in the back streets, fields or community halls for the month-long celebrations have been missing this year.
Normally, each Phor Thor committee would host an appreciation dinner after the burning of paper effigies, where people from all walks of life, from businessmen to roadside hawkers, would sit down together to feast.
This is also a time when local elected representatives and opposition members have their diaries crammed with invitations for the dinners.
Another caterer, who wished to be known as Ong, 62, also did not receive orders for the festival which began on Wednesday.
“I have been in the industry for more than 10 years and this is the first time our business is so badly affected. In previous years, we did catering for Phor Thor dinners almost every night and sometimes, we had to divide into teams and did it at several locations on the same night.
“However, due to the pandemic, the catering business has been slow since January. I even have to take up part-time jobs to supplement my income,” he said.
According to Chinese beliefs, ghosts exist in a realm where they suffer from great thirst and hunger that can never be sated – a consequence of bad karma.
The best way to ease their suffering is to make offerings on their behalf. Merits accrued from such deeds can be dedicated to the spirits in hopes that they may have a better rebirth.
Called Yu Lan in Mandarin or Phor Thor in Hokkien, the festival is held every year during the seventh month of the Lunar calendar.
Across Penang, stages are set up in predominantly Chinese areas and evening performances are held to entertain both humans and “non-humans” alike.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 400 places around Penang that usually hold such celebrations will not be staging such performances this year.
According to Penang Teong Guan Association chairman Heng Yak Hoi, many committees would not be conducting Phor Thor prayers in public areas in a bid to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
I even have to take up part-time jobs to supplement my income.
Ong