by Daniel Chiam
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It turned out green in the photo *spooky* |
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The angels that's looking after for one of the grave there |
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Some of the burn offering |
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Path of lights |
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The spectators |
The last thing that I remembered about The Hungry Ghost Festival was that it was used to be a big celebration here in Keningau. They will have big joysticks with figure of dragon wrapped around it and placed around the town's football field. A lot of burn offering in all shapes and sizes, and I remember I used to go around and pickup those money and thought it was a Chinese version of monopoly currency when I was little. Later only I found out that it was actually hell's money for the dead. They'll setup a big stage for performances. It was like an open concert where you get to listen to all the Chinese oldies, and it was just too happening to have a certain spooky feeling that it was actually a festival for the dead.
I can't remember when did the festival stopped being organized in a large scale, and nowadays, every Chinese temples or Chinese association are organizing their own small festival for the dead. I attended one yesterday for work purposes, and it was held in a cemetery. It was my first time being in a cemetery at night, and I realized there was nothing scary about it. I don't really know much about my Chinese side of the heritage and cultures, and it's always great to know something about it as I go along. After the festival has ended, I realized that even the festival for the dead is a ritual for the living to be bless with great prosperity too.
If you are hoping for a ghost story, then I don't have one for you right here. Sorry.
-----------[ About the contributor ]----------
Daniel Chiam is a self taught photographer who is a coffee addict and love his afternoon nap. He always wished to travel more often but there's always a hole in his pockets. One of his life long wishes is to do bungee jumping in New Zealand, and he is now working hard to make that happened.
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Seize the day, Caper Diem"
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