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            HomeAll HappeningsFestivalsHungry Ghost Festival

            Hungry Ghost Festival

            6 September 2025
            With roots in Buddhist and Taoist beliefs, this Chinese festival honours the memories of the dearly departed.

            Live street performance at Hungry Ghost Festival

            A Guide to the Hungry Ghost Festival

            From el Dia de Muertos in Mexico to Halloween in North America, cultures across the world have festivals meant to honour the dead.

             

            The Chinese in Singapore are no different. The Hungry Ghost Festival takes place during the seventh month of the lunar calendar, with burnt offerings and live street performances a common sight across the island.

            Explore Age-old Traditions

            While less lighthearted than other festivals, this fascinating observance provides a deep insight into Chinese culture. Visit these locales to learn more:

            Walk With Hantu

            Walk With Hantu

            Journey through some of the spookiest spots in Changi, from old British military buildings, to the infamous Old Changi Hospital, while listening to urban legends.

            Seng Wong Beo Temple

            Seng Wong Beo Temple

            Nestled between the office towers of Tanjong Pagar, this temple has an altar to the Taoist underworld God of Wealth, and was a site of ghost weddings.

            The Ghost of Forbidden Hill

            The Ghosts of Forbidden Hill

            Singapore's Chinese community isn't its only ethnic group with tales from the afterlife. Delve into a world of spirits, mediums and the island's last king on this gripping tour.

            Hungry For Knowledge

            Eager to learn more about the customs of the Hungry Ghost Festival? Read on.

            Joss Sticks (Insence sticks)
            Joss Sticks (Insence sticks)
            Colorful horses made from paper
            Getai Singers getting ready to perform
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            Joss Sticks (Insence sticks)

            Joss Sticks

            Besides being burnt during the Hungry Ghost Festival, the use of incense has been documented across a variety of Eastern practices, from Hinduism to Buddhism. 

            Colorful horses made from paper

            Paper Offerings

            It is common during this festival for the Chinese to burn paper offerings in the shape of cars, watches and cash for ancestors to receive in the afterlife.

            Getai Singers getting ready to perform

            Getai Singers

            In Chinese, the words getai comes from the symbols for 'song' and 'stage'. These boisterous live music performances feature quick-witted hosts and songs in dialects like Hokkien.

            Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

            Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

            Explore Chinatown

            Neighborhood

            From trendy bars and traditional merchants to bustling streets and stories, Singapore's Chinatown is filled with enchantment.

            Find out more
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              • Last Updated 20 Aug 2024