Hungry Ghost month explained: Rituals, beliefs and taboos
NUR ADNIN MAHALIM
SHAH ALAM – If you’ve walked past the roadside at night and noticed food, drinks and incense sticks neatly arranged, don’t be alarmed, it’s not a midnight picnic, but a ritual tied to Hungry Ghost Month.
Social media content creator Mekyun, whose real name is Wee Yu Nee, said that this is a period when many in the Chinese community believe the gates of the underworld open, allowing hungry and restless spirits to roam the human world.
“This is the time when some Chinese believe the gates of the underworld open, which means hungry and restless spirits get to wander in and out of the human world.
“That’s why we call it Hungry Ghost Month,” Mekyun said in a video posted on her Instagram account.
Rituals and Offerings
Those stacks of paper being burned? They’re not trash, but hell notes, symbolic money burned so that spirits may use it in their realm.
“We believe when it’s burnt, the spirits receive that money to use in their world,” Mekyun said.
The food, incense and drinks placed by the roadside serve as offerings.
“It’s a sign of respect to calm the spirits so they don’t disturb humans. Food and drinks are to feed wandering souls, while incense invites them to enjoy it,” Mekyun explained.
Once the rituals are complete, families typically clean up the area, leaving it neat again.
Rules and Taboos
Like many traditions, Hungry Ghost Month comes with its own set of taboos. Mekyun reminded her followers to avoid:
- Heading home after midnight
- Joking about ghosts
- Stepping on offerings or incense left by the roadside
“These are big no-nos,” she cautioned.
“So if you see food or incense by the road, now you know... it’s part of the Hungry Ghost Month belief,” she said.
Hungry Ghost Month in 2025
The Hungry Ghost Festival is observed during the seventh lunar month of the Chinese calendar, with the peak falling on the 15th day.
In 2025, Ghost Month begins on Aug 23 and ends on Sept 21, with offerings and rituals carried out throughout the entire month.
- Aug 23 – First day of the seventh lunar month, when the Gates of Hell are believed to open.
- Sept 6 – The 15th day, also called Ghost Day, regarded as the most spiritually active period.
- Sept 21 – The 29th day, when the gates are believed to close and spirits return to the underworld.
Throughout this time, families perform rituals, make offerings and observe taboos. Many also extend rituals on the first, fifteenth and last days of the month, considered the most significant.
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