If you spend a Singapore evening in late summer and notice small fires by the roadside, red candles glowing on the pavement, or a stage lit up with a booming live show, you are seeing the Hungry Ghost Festival in full swing. It is one of the most visible folk observances on the calendar, and also one of the most misunderstood. This guide explains what it is, how it is practised, and how to be a respectful neighbour or curious newcomer during the season.
What the Hungry Ghost Festival is
The Hungry Ghost Festival falls during the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which usually lands somewhere in August or September on the Gregorian calendar. Many people simply call the whole period the seventh month, or “Seventh Month.” The festival’s formal name is Zhong Yuan Jie, and in some communities it overlaps with the Buddhist Ullambana observance.
The belief at its heart is gentle and quite human: during this month, the gates of the afterlife are said to open, and spirits are free to roam among the living. Some of these are ancestors returning to visit their families. Others are the “hungry ghosts,” wandering souls with no descendants to remember them, or who left the world with unfinished business. The month is a time to feed, comfort, and show respect to all of them.
Taoist and Buddhist roots
The observance draws on two traditions that have long sat side by side in Chinese culture.
- In the Taoist view, Zhong Yuan Jie is one of three annual “yuan” festivals and is tied to the deity who pardons and releases souls. Offerings and prayers help ease the suffering of the wandering dead.
- In the Buddhist view, the season connects to the story of the monk Mulian, who used the collective merit of the monastic community to rescue his mother from a realm of hungry ghosts. From this comes the theme of transferring merit and compassion to those in need.
In Singapore, families rarely draw a hard line between the two. Practices blend together, and the shared spirit is one of remembrance and generosity rather than fear.
Common practices you will see
Much of the season plays out in public, which is why it is so noticeable. Here are the customs you are most likely to come across.
Burning joss paper and offerings
The most recognisable sight is the burning of joss paper, sometimes called “hell money,” in metal bins, braziers, or on the ground. The idea is that what is burned is transmitted to the spirit world, so ancestors and wandering souls are not left wanting. Alongside the paper money, families may burn paper replicas of everyday comforts, and lay out food, fruit, tea, and lit joss sticks.
Roadside offerings
You will often find small clusters of offerings placed directly on pavements, grass verges, or void deck corners: a plate of rice, some fruit, a few sweets, cups of drink, and burning candles or incense. These roadside offerings are meant for the wandering spirits who have no family to feed them. If you see one, simply walk around it. It is a private act of kindness left in a public space.
Getai and auctions
In the evenings, temporary stages spring up in open fields, car parks, and housing estates for getai, meaning “song stage.” These are lively, loud, brightly lit live performances with singing, comedy, and hosting, often held to entertain both the living community and the visiting spirits. Getai has become a beloved part of Singapore’s cultural fabric, with performers who are local celebrities in their own right.
Many getai events are paired with dinners and charity auctions, where symbolic items and “auspicious” objects are bid on to raise funds for the temple or organising committee. The atmosphere is festive and generous.
If you attend a getai, look at the very front. The first row of seats is usually left empty, and often marked in red. Those seats are reserved for the guests of honour: the spirits. Sit further back, and you will be a welcome member of the audience.
Taboos and superstitions
Part of the seventh month is a set of gentle cautions passed down through families. You do not have to believe in them to be aware of them, and many Singaporeans follow some while relaxed about others. Common ones include:
- Avoid swimming, especially at night, as water is associated with drowned spirits.
- Try not to stay out very late alone or wander in quiet, dark places.
- Avoid moving house, starting major renovations, holding weddings, or launching big ventures during the month, as it is considered inauspicious.
- Do not kick, step on, or disturb roadside offerings.
- Do not pick up money or objects found on the ground, as they may be offerings.
- Take care with whistling or calling out names at night, which some believe can attract attention from the unseen.
These are cultural courtesies more than firm rules. The kind approach is to respect them where you can and never mock them.
How it is observed in multicultural Singapore
Singapore is home to many faiths and communities, and the seventh month sits comfortably within that shared space. The festival is primarily observed by Taoist and Buddhist Chinese families, while neighbours of other backgrounds live alongside it with easy familiarity. You do not need to take part to be respectful, and no one expects you to.
The season is also managed with a light civic touch. Burning is generally done in designated bins and containers to keep common areas safe and clean, town councils and temples coordinate getai and larger events, and cleaners tend to the aftermath. It is a good example of how a deeply traditional practice is woven into a modern, high-density city without friction.
Quick tips for newcomers
If this is your first seventh month in Singapore, here is a short checklist to help you navigate it with grace.
- Walk around, not through, any roadside offerings. Treat them as you would someone’s small shrine.
- Leave things where they are. Do not touch or pocket food, money, or objects left as offerings.
- Mind the front row at getai. Those empty seats are intentional, so choose a spot further back.
- Expect noise and smoke in the evenings. Getai can run late and burning is common; it is temporary and seasonal.
- Ask, do not assume. If you are curious, most people are happy to explain their family’s customs kindly.
- Be a considerate observer. Photos are usually fine in public, but avoid getting in the way of anyone mid-prayer.
Approached with an open mind, the Hungry Ghost Festival is a moving reminder of how much Singaporean culture values memory, family, and looking after those who have no one else. Whether you observe it, live beside it, or simply notice it on your evening walk, a little awareness goes a long way.
Explore more: A guide to Singapore’s festivals · Singapore’s ethnic enclaves