Hungry Ghost Festival, Penang

The Hungry Ghost Festival which falls on the Seventh Lunar Month of the Chinese calender is celebrated on a grand scale in Penang. During this month, the Chinese believed that the Gates of Hell are thrown open for spirits and ghosts from the nether world to roam freely in search for food. Makeshift altars are erected at markets and streets, and food is offered to appease their hunger. Staged opera performances and puppet shows are also conducted at these venues for the entertainment of the ghosts, spirits and the public on a nightly basis.