Singapore - This festival is held during the 7th month of the Chinese Lunar calendar and celebrated by both Buddhists and Taoists. The hungry ghost festival is a month-long celebration that is perhaps best construed as one that honours the dearly departed.
During this time, it's believed that the souls of departed ancestors and friends are released from Hell to wander the earth for 30 days. If their warth is incurred, they may do acts of mischief, so steps must be taken to appease the spirits before they go on a rampage.
What started out as two separate celebrations among 2 religions became a single entity during the Tang Dynasty when Buddhist and Taoist festivals were merged into one single celebration.
During this month, it's common to find Buddhists and Taoists offering feasts to satiate their departed's hunger and in the process of pleasing them, bring luck and good fortune onto the family. Besides, food, other offerings include joss sticks and 'hell notes', which serve as currency in the afterlife. Burning paper items such as cloths, TV sets, cars and houses also feature into the equation as people believe that such offerings allow their loved ones to lead comfortable lives in the netherworld.
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