The 7th Lunar Month has always been riddled with a sense of mystery, superstition, and misunderstanding. During the course of the month, from 16 August to 14 September this year, Taoists commemorate it as the Hungry Ghost Festival (Zhong Yuan Jie), while Buddhists commemorate it as the Ullambana Festival (Yu Lan Jie) – events filled with rituals, traditions, and practices going back thousands of years.

Unfortunately, the scale and incidence of these festivals have been declining. More of the younger generation are hesitant to participate in the traditions and COVID-19 and surging inflation have hastened the process. It is therefore a race against time to capture the true meaning and essence of these festivals before they are lost forever.

This year, for the second year running, Journeys Pte Ltd, the management of Haw Par Villa, is commemorating the 7th Lunar Month as the Spirits Festival with two events:

1. 7th Lunar Month Taoist-Buddhist Unity Blessings
2. RoAM Talk Series: Evolution of the 7th Lunar Month from Imperial China to Modern Singapore

Venue: Haw Par Villa

When: 9 Sep 2023,

By: Haw Par Villa & Hell's Museum