Worshippers ‘grapple with the ghosts’

SIBU: An ancient ritual known as ‘Grappling with the Ghosts’ was the highlight of the Hungry Ghost Festival at the Tua Pek Kong Temple here on Tuesday night as worshippers snatched food with the ‘ghosts’.

Tua Pek Kong Temple chairman Penghulu Soon Choon Hoo said the practice has been observed every 15th of seven lunar month since the temple was built more than one and half centuries ago.

This is a cultural heritage we have to preserve and pass it on. We lay out food outside the temple at dusk, offer prayers to bless the wandering souls and after the religious ceremony, the worshippers and members of the public swarm in to grab the food. Penghulu Soon Choon Hoo, Tua Pek Kong Temple chairman

“This is a cultural heritage we have to preserve and pass it on. We lay out food outside the temple at dusk, offer prayers to bless the wandering souls and after the religious ceremony, the worshippers and members of the public swarm in to grab the food,” he said.

Soon said worshippers believe consuming the offerings for the wandering souls would bring blessings.

The ceremony began with prayers before a Taoist priest sprinkled rice on the ground to symbolically feed the wandering souls.

Worshippers also burnt ghost money before the temple committee led them in offering prayers and the food grab began.

Because the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar is dedicated to wandering souls, Soon said Chinese families would not host important events during that month.

“This is a low season when the Chinese avoid marriages, moving houses and other important events. This practice has been observed for centuries and the taboos are still being passed on,” he said.

He said out of respect for the ghosts, they would address them as ‘ The Good Brothers’ or ‘Ho Hia Ti’ in Hokkien.

He said in some temples, black lanterns were lit to show the way for the ghosts in the seventh month but this was not practiced at this temple.

“We only light red lanterns – a cultural significance of an abundant blessing of happiness,” he explained.

Soon said after the Hungry Ghost Festival, the temple would look forward to the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is a month away.

He said there would be an openair concert at the Yunhu Stage in Chiang Chuan Garden beside the temple.

Complete meals from rice to dessert are offered to the wandering souls.

Worshippers grab the offerings, which are said to bring blessings.

Worshippers place candles by the offerings of food.

Temple committee members lead prayers.

A priest prays at the ceremonial altar set up outside the temple.