Hungry Ghost Festival 中元节

Singapore

新加坡

The Hungry Ghost Festival is a traditional Buddhist and Taoist festival held in Asian countries.

The Hungry Ghost Festival is on the fifteenth night of the seventh month in the lunar calendar.

In general, the seventh month is regarded as the Ghost Month.

Ghosts and spirits, including those of the deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm.

During the Hungry Ghost Festival, the deceased are believed to visit their living descendants.

On the fifteenth day, the ghost gate is opened.

Both Buddhists and Taoists would perform rituals to transmute and absolve the sufferings of the deceased.

In Singapore and Malaysia, concert-like performances known as Getai, are a prominent feature of the Hungry Ghost Festival.

They are performed by groups of singers, dancers and entertainers on a temporary stage that is set up within a residential district.

It is known to bring bad luck to sit on the front row of seats, as they are solely reserved for the ghosts themselves.

If anyone were to sit on them, they would become sick.

Many things should be avoided during the Ghost Month, here are some:

- Don't move to new house, start new business or marry as it is believed to be inauspicious.

- Don't stroll at night or go out at midnight as the ghost may approach you for food or other offerings.

- Don't step on the offerings, if stepped on accidentally, should apologise aloud to ameliorate the situation.

- Don't swim as it is said that drowned evil ghosts may try to drown people in order to find victims for their rebirth.

So long as our conscience is cleared, there is nothing to be afraid of; after all ghosts and humans are living in different dimensions.

中元节在亚洲国家是佛教徒和道教徒举行的传统节日。

中元节是在农历七月十五晚上。

一般而言，整个农历七月都被视为鬼月。

鬼、魂，包括那些已故的祖先，都会从鬼门关出来。

据说在中元节，死去的祖先会回来探望他们的子孙。

在第十五天，鬼门将开放。

佛教徒和道教徒将举行法会，以普渡众生。

在新加坡和马来西亚，演唱会般的歌台表演，是中元节的一大特点。

歌台在住宅区内，歌手、舞者和演艺团体在临时搭建的舞台上演出。

歌台前排的椅子坐了是会带来霉运的，因为它们是保留给“好兄弟”坐的。

如果任何人坐上，他们就会生病。

在鬼月期间许多事情应该避免，这里就列举一些：

- 不要乔迁、开始新的业务或结婚，因为是不吉利的。

- 不要在夜间散步或者在半夜出去，因为鬼魂可能会向你讨食物或其他东西。

- 不要踩到供品，如果意外踩了，应该大声道歉以改善情况。

- 不要游泳，因为据说淹死鬼可能试图淹死别人，来为自己找替死鬼。

大家也别太畏惧，所谓平时不做亏心事，半夜敲门也不惊；毕竟，人、鬼是生活在不一样的空间里啦。

注：“好兄弟”是指鬼魂也。