The Hungry Ghost Festival is a traditional Taoist and Buddhist event observed mostly by Chinese communities.

Known as the 7th month ghost festival, it holds deep spiritual significance across Asia.

Not only in Singapore, this ghost month celebration holds significant meaning for many communities across other parts of Asia.

According to belief, this is when the Gates of Hell open, allowing spirits to return to the world.

These spirits roam the earth looking for food, entertainment, or to visit loved ones.

To appease them and avoid misfortune, people offer food, burn joss paper, and conduct rituals.

If you're curious about this ghost month celebration, here’s a closer look at the key dates, traditions, taboos, and how it’s observed in different places.

The origins of the Hungry Ghost Festival can be traced back to ancient Chinese folklore and Buddhist texts.

In Taoist belief, this month is when spirits are temporarily released from the underworld.

In Buddhist tradition, it draws from the Ullambana Sutra, where a disciple, Maudgalyayana, offers food to monks to ease his mother’s suffering in the realm of hungry ghosts.

These cultural influences merged over time into the modern festival, where rituals focus on compassion, ancestor worship, and spiritual balance.

The Hungry Ghost Festival is held during the seventh month of the lunar calendar.

However, the dates change each year based on the lunar calendar, so they don’t align with the standard Gregorian calendar.

In 2025, Ghost Month begins on 23 August and ends on 21 September.

Here are the key dates to note:

Throughout this period, many people carry out rituals, avoid certain activities, and take extra care in their daily routines.

Some families also extend their rituals beyond the key dates, especially on the first, fifteenth, and last days of the month.

Ghost Month is widely seen as a bad time to make major life decisions.

During this period, people avoid starting new businesses, signing important contracts, moving house, or even holding a wedding.

At night, especially in dimly lit or isolated areas, many choose not to stay out late.

There’s a lingering fear of encountering wandering spirits, and elders often advise staying indoors once it gets dark.

There’s also a strong belief that ignoring or disrespecting spirits can invite trouble.

This might include stepping on offerings, mocking rituals, or failing to observe taboos.

Such actions are believed to bring bad luck, illness, or other misfortunes.

These beliefs shape everyday behaviour during Ghost Month.

From how late people stay out to where they go, many routines are adjusted out of caution.

To avoid bad luck, here are some common taboos during the Chinese calendar ghost month:

Some families also use protective charms, especially those with young kids.

Red triangular pendants with temple inscriptions are commonly pinned on children’s clothes.

This festival is marked by personal rituals and communal traditions, each with its significance.

Although celebrations can vary slightly by region, some common practices include:

The Ghost Festival Singapore 2022 saw large crowds return to public Getai shows after pandemic restrictions eased.

Similar festivities are expected in 2025, including paper effigy burning, street offerings, and temple prayers.

The Hungry Ghost Festival is observed across Asian countries, each with its own local name.

It is known as the Yu Lan Festival in Hong Kong, Zhongyuan Festival in Taiwan, and Obon Festival in Japan.

The festival is also widely celebrated in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Despite regional differences, the festival shares common cultural roots throughout the region.

Aside from Singapore, other countries across Asia have their unique ways of observing the Hungry Ghost Festival, such as:

In Hong Kong, the festival is known as the Yu Lan Festival and is recognised as part of the city’s intangible cultural heritage.

The celebration features elaborate street performances, including Chinese opera shows to entertain the living and the spirits.

Large-scale offerings are common sights throughout the city, particularly the burning of joss paper and papier-mâché effigies.

Taiwan holds grand ceremonies during the Hungry Ghost Festival, especially in Keelung.

Public rituals are conducted to honour ancestors and appease hungry spirits, often led by religious leaders.

One of the most iconic traditions is the release of floating lanterns into the sea, believed to guide spirits safely back to the underworld.

The Hungry Ghost Festival in Malaysia is celebrated in areas with large Chinese communities such as Penang, Kuala Lumpur, and Johor Bahru.

Public Getai shows featuring music and dramatic performances are staged in neighbourhoods, often with the front rows left empty for the spirits.

Rituals include burning paper effigies of deities and symbolic guardians, meant to offer protection and appeasement.

In Japan, the Obon Festival is seen as the cultural equivalent of the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Families return to their hometowns to visit ancestral graves, clean the tombstones, and pray.

One of the most well-known traditions is the Bon Odori dance, performed to welcome the spirits of ancestors.

The celebration concludes with floating lanterns released on rivers, guiding the spirits back to the afterlife.

In Indonesia, especially in cities like Medan, Jakarta and Semarang, the Hungry Ghost Festival is observed mainly by Chinese communities.

Temples become active centres of activity where monks lead chanting sessions, conduct prayers, and burn incense.

The atmosphere during the festival is solemn yet communal, reflecting spiritual reverence and cultural solidarity.

If you're planning to witness a ghost month celebration, here are some great places to stay:

Whether you’re attending a ritual or simply observing from afar, Traveloka helps you find the ideal hotel with just a few taps.

Once the 7th month ghost festival ends on 21 September 2025, the gates of the underworld are believed to close.

People resume normal activities like moving house or holding weddings, which were avoided during the Chinese calendar ghost month.

Some also perform final rites to guide lingering spirits home and cleanse any lingering bad luck.

After ghost month, daily routines return to normal, and it's common to hold prayers of gratitude or peace.

Ultimately, the Hungry Ghost Festival is a fascinating blend of spiritual belief, cultural respect, and family tradition.

From performances to offerings, each act reflects centuries of Chinese ghost festival traditions rooted in community and care.

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