A devotee getting ready for Hungry Ghost Festival's ritual

The Hungry Ghost Festival, or “Seventh Month,” is a key event in Singapore’s cultural calendar. Held annually in August, it is a time when spirits are believed to roam the Earth. The festival features various rituals to honor and appease these wandering souls.

Preparing for the procession
Inviting "Dua Ya Pek" during Hungry Ghost Festival's ritual

Rituals and Offerings
During the Hungry Ghost Festival, devotees actively participate in rituals. They offer food, light incense, and burn joss paper. These actions are meant to provide for the spirits and ensure their comfort in the afterlife. Burning joss paper symbolizes sending material wealth to the deceased, which helps to keep them content and prevent disturbances.

Notable Figures and Personal Experience
“Dua Ya Pek” (大爷伯) is a notable figure in the festival, dressed in a white robe and a tall hat inscribed with “Become Rich Upon Encountering Me.” This figure symbolizes prosperity and plays a crucial role in the festival’s rituals.

I was honored to receive an invitation from Huay Hoon Keng Temple (@huoyungong) to document the Hungry Ghost Festival. This opportunity allowed me to capture the vibrant and spiritual aspects of the festival through my photography.

Listening to instruction and prayers from devotees.
Burning joss paper during Hungry Ghost Festival

Celebrations at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery
The Choa Chu Kang Cemetery becomes a focal point of activity during the festival. Temple groups and funeral businesses come together to perform rituals here. Devotees light candles and incense at each grave, and they burn offerings to honor the spirits. This collective effort reflects the community’s respect and dedication to the deceased.

I documented the ceremonies at a Chinese Cemetery near Old Choa Chu Kang Road, just a short distance from the main Choa Chu Kang Cemetery.

Changes at the Cemetery
From a post by @darrensohphoto, I learned that the Choa Chu Kang Chinese Cemetery has decreased in size over the past five years. The area near Lim Chu Kang Road will be reclaimed by 2030 for the expansion of Tengah Airbase. As Paya Lebar Airbase closes, Lim Chu Kang Road will become off-limits, leading to the removal of many old graves. This change underscores the evolving nature of Singapore’s cultural and historical sites