http://bladepicturecompany.com/categories.php?cat_id=180 In Chinese tradition, the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is called Ghost Day and the seventh month in general is regarded as the Ghost Month, in which ghosts and spirits, including those of the deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm. Distinct from both the Qingming Festival (in Spring) and Chung Yeung Festival (in Autumn) in which living descendants pay homage to their deceased ancestors, on Ghost Day, the deceased are believed to visit the living.
On the fifteenth day the realms of Heaven and Hell and the realm of the living are open and both Taoists and Buddhists would perform rituals to transmute and absolve the sufferings of the deceased. Intrinsic to the Ghost Month is ancestor worship, where traditionally the filial piety of descendants extends to their ancestors even after their deaths. Activities during the month would include preparing ritualistic food offerings, burning incense, and burning joss paper, a papier-mache form of material items such as clothes, gold and other fine goods for the visiting spirits of the ancestors. Elaborate meals (often vegetarian meals) would be served with empty seats for each of the deceased in the family treating the deceased as if they are still living. Ancestor worship is what distinguishes Qingming Festival from Ghost Festival because the latter includes paying respects to all deceased, including the same and younger generations, while the former only includes older generations. Other festivities may include, buying and releasing miniature paper boats and lanterns on water, which signifies giving directions to the lost ghosts and spirits of the ancestors and other deities.
The Ghost Festival in Malaysia is modernized by the 'concert-like' live performances. It has its own characteristics and is not similar to other Ghost Festivals in other countries. The live show is popularly known as 'Koh-tai' by the Hokkien-speaking people, performed by a group of singers, dancers and entertainers on a temporary stage that setup within the residential district. The festival is funded by the residents of each individual residential districts.
Photo Documentary / Photo journal Story by Malaysian photojournalist Shamshahrin Shamsudin]]> Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:30:16 GMT http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4604 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:35:05 GMT The Hungry Ghost Festival | Malaysia http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4604 http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4603 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:33:26 GMT The Hungry Ghost Festival | Malaysia http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4603 http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4602 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:31:55 GMT The Hungry Ghost Festival | Malaysia http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4602 http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4601 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:30:26 GMT The Hungry Ghost Festival | Malaysia http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4601 http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4600 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:29:03 GMT The Hungry Ghost Festival | Malaysia http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4600 http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4599 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:27:41 GMT The Hungry Ghost Festival | Malaysia http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4599 http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4598 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:26:20 GMT The Hungry Ghost Festival | Malaysia http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4598 http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4597 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:24:32 GMT The Hungry Ghost Festival | Malaysia http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4597 http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4596 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:23:02 GMT The Hungry Ghost Festival | Malaysia http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4596 http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4595 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:20:51 GMT The Hungry Ghost Festival | Malaysia http://bladepicturecompany.com/details.php?image_id=4595