Date: 10th August 2010 ~ 7th September 2010
Venue: Around the streets of Penang
Organizer: Tiong Guan Association
Contact: 04-2818413

Like Halloween in America, the ‘Hungry Ghost festival’ is for the Chinese in Penang.
The Chinese believes that on the 7th Lunar month the Gates of Hell will open and the hungry ghosts will be free to roam in the living world for a month.

This is the time when the Chinese remember their dead family members and pay tribute to them. Offering food to the deceased to appease them and wards off bad luck.

It is a common sight in Penang to see Chinese Opera and Puppet shows performed on outdoor stages in some neighborhoods to entertain the ghost. These events are always held at night. There is a belief that this entertainment would please those wandering ghosts.

One important character in this festival is "Taai Si Wong" or "Tua Lau Eaa". He is built to act as the King of the festival to ensure the ghosts are behaving and everything at the festival has been completed properly. The effigy of "Taai Si Wong"or "Tua Lau Eaa" is burnt with joss paper to send him back to hell when the Hungry Ghost Festival is over. The largest "Taai Si Wong"or "Tua Lau Eaa" in Penang is located at Market Street, Bukit Mertajam.