21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
A Farewell Ceremony with the Hungry Ghost

The Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as Zhong Yuan Jie or Yu Lan Jie, is a traditional Chinese festival that typically takes place in the seventh month of the lunar calendar. One fascinating and visually striking aspect of this festival is the burning of enormous paper effigies, often shaped like iconic Hungry Ghost creature. This ritual is deeply rooted in Chinese folklore and is believed to be a way to honor and appease the spirits of the deceased, particularly those who may have no living relatives to pay homage to them.

Photo Detail
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Penang, Malaysia
Copyright: © Lam Soon Tak