Hong Kong celebrates Hungry Ghost Festival
Published : Aug 29, 2018, 10:35 am IST
Updated : Jul 6, 2019, 3:32 pm IST
Countless hungry and restless ghosts are roaming Hong Kong, and the world, to visit their living ancestors, at least according to Chinese convention. (Photo: AP)
Taoist papers and paper money are seen during a event to mark the Hungry Ghost Festival in Yuen Long District, Hong Kong on August 22, 2018. It is believed that the "Gates of Hell" are opened during the seventh month in the lunar calendar to let out the hungry ghosts who then wander in the land of the living while foraging for food. (Photo: AFP)
Participants try to catch rice in small orange colour bags with baskets on sticks during the Ghost Grappling competition to mark the "Hungry Ghost Festival" at a downtown park in Hong Kong Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. In traditional Chinese belief, the seventh month of the lunar year is reserved for the Hungry Ghost festival, or Yu Lan, a raucous celebration marked by feasts and music. (Photo: AP)
Devotees light up paper money during an event to mark the Hungry Ghost Festival in Yuen Long district, Hong Kong on August 22, 2018. Food offerings are made while paper money and incense sticks are burnt outside homes to keep the spirits of dead ancestors happy and to bring good luck, while Chinese opera performances are given to praise the charitable and pious deeds of deities. (Photo: AFP)
Devotees set fire to a paper statue of Chinese deity "Da Shi Ye" or the Guardian God of Ghosts to mark the Hungry Ghost Festival in Yuen Long district, Hong Kong on August 22, 2018. It is believed that the ghosts will not curse those people who make offerings of food, money and other goods.(Photo: AFP)
A devotee (L) throws Taoist papers to a paper statue Chinese deity "Da Shi Ye" or the Guardian God of Ghosts to mark the Hungry Ghost Festival in Yuen Long district, Hong Kong on August 22, 2018.The tradition is believed to have started since the Song Dynasty in AD960. (Photo: AFP)
People relax in front of a makeshift theatre during an event to mark the Hungry Ghost Festival in Yuen Long district, Hong Kong on August 22, 2018. Lotus-shaped paper lantern are set off on lakes or rivers on the night of the Hungry Ghost Festival to guide the ghosts back to the underworld. (Photo: AFP)
A devotee throws Taoist papers on the road during an event to mark the Hungry Ghost Festival in Yuen Long district, Hong Kong on August 22, 2018. Countless hungry and restless ghosts are roaming Hong Kong, and the world, to visit their living ancestors, at least according to Chinese convention. (Photo: AFP)