Yesterday was a big day to Chinese of the Taoist and Buddhist faith. Prayers and offerings to the departed were carried out at home. Some men working on some renovation work even called for a break to celebrate the occasion. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated all over Asia; not just in China but in Korea, Japan and Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia too where there is a sizable Chinese population. While some sources said that the Hungry Ghost Festival started in China, there was a Buddhist story associated with the festival. It seemed that Buddha had a disciple Maudgalyayana who with his divine eyes, saw his preta mother suffering in the hungry ghost realm. Buddha told him that he could help his mother by offering clean basins full of hundreds of flavors and the five fruits, and other offerings of incense, oil, lamp, candle to the virtuous monks who gather on Pavarana Day on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month and transfering the merits to his mother. Hence, it's not surprising that Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated by Buddhists in countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Sri Lanka.
Comments