Hungry Ghost Festival

Two days ago, the Hungry Ghost Festival began.  It goes for about a month until mid September (this year the festival ends on Kate's birthday).  Here is what our little tourist booklet says about it:  "The Hungry Ghost Festival falls during the seventh lunar month and is celebrated on a grand scale in Penang.  During this month, it is believed that the Gates of Hell are thrown open for spirits and ghosts from the nether world to roam freely in search for food.  Thus, makeshift altars are erected at roadsides where giant joss sticks are lit and food is offered to appease their hunger.  Staged opera performances and puppet shows are also conducted at these venues for the entertainment of the ghosts, spirits and the public on a nightly basis."

The first picture shows the joss sticks that were lit around the corner of our house.  We saw some really big, decorated sticks that were smouldering closer to the bigger city of Georgetown that were taller than me (Eileen) in height. The second picture was taken about a block from our house, a little offering that the flies and ants get to enjoy.  The little critters seemed to prefer the colourful cookies the most, then the lychees in the pink bag (a fruit), and none were on the crackers (in the upper, right corner).  We didn't see any evidence of performances.