Every year, we celebrated the most fearsome month of the year...the ghost festival month. But most of us are not aware of the history behind this believe....
these is a fact taken from http://www.paohua.org/yulan.html to explain briefly on this festival.
"The Chinese Ghost Festival, also known as the Yu-Lan Festival, is one ofthe most important in the Chinese Culture. It falls on the 15th day of the seventh month of the Lunar calendar.
The festival started with the Buddhist story about Mu-Lin, the eldest monk under the discipline of Buddha.
The festival started with the Buddhist story about Mu-Lin, the eldest monk under the discipline of Buddha.
Legend has it that after committing many terrible crimes, including murder, Mu-Lin's mother was sent to the 18th level, the very bottom of Hell, where she became a hungry ghost. Mu-Lin learned of her suffering and went down to hell to help her by feeding her with rice and water, but he failed, as the food quickly caught fire before it could reach his mother's lip. Mu-Lin then asked Buddha for advice. He was told to perform rituals with sincerity on the 15th day of the seventh month and prepare food for other ghosts as well. The gods were so emotionally moved by his act that they finally gave his mother lighter punishment sentence and a temporarily release for foods.
Since then the date has been known as the Yu-Lan Festival. It is thought that the gates of Hell are opened on that day, releasing hungry ghosts into the Haba world for foods.
Though the day is not officially marked in the calendar, most people will not forget to perform the rituals required to keep the ghosts happy. Most people will carry these out in the street. They will prepare rice, rice wine, bean sprouts, bean curd, fruits, dried long gan and peanuts to serve the ghosts. Then they will light up a pair of red candles and incense to please the ghosts. Also different types of paper are burned which act as money for the ghosts."
