Phor Thor
The Hungry Ghost Festival in Malaysia
Phor Thor
The Hungry Ghost Festival is called Phor Thor in Malaysia. Many of the traditions associated with the Malaysian version of this festival are derived from the Chinese, but there is a local love story connected to Phor Thor.
Long ago there were two young lovers who were forbidden by their parents to marry. In their despair, they jumped together from a bridge and drowned. The next day, a single lotus stalk with two blossoms was found beneath the bridge. It is for this reason that it is considered unlucky to marry during this month.
Families lay out food on long tables in their homes for their visiting ancestor spirits. The centerpiece is a large model of Phor Thor Kong, the King of Hell. It is forbidden to put anything other than food on this table, lest the King of Hell take it for his own. The King eats first, and then the spirits.
There is a difference in the ancestor spirits, those who are being regularly honored by their descendants and have a family to return to, and those spirits who have no one. It is these lost souls who are considered to be the hungry ghosts and are feared. So food is laid out on street corners and in front of houses to try to keep these homeless spirits away from the offerings meant for a family's ancestors, and to keep an unquiet spirit from seeking revenge for past wrongs or causing some disturbance within the household.
Because the hungry ghosts are roaming the streets, young children are kept inside, lest they be snatched away into the kingdom of the dead. Even for older children and adults, it is dangerous to be out after midnight. Swimming is discouraged, as is even going to a beach, since so many deaths have come from the sea in this island region. Moving house during this month is very unlucky. If anyone does die during this month, it is said to be because of disobedience to these taboos.
Traditionally, there were outdoor stages upon which were held operas and puppet shows on the nights of the festival, as an entertainment for the wandering ghosts. Today these are rare, having been replaced with pop music concerts.
At midnight on the last day of the festival, the ghosts return to their own world and the gates are closed. The effigy of Phor Thor Kong is burned in a bonfire, along with paper money. Any leftover food is distributed among the poor.
View photographs from the 2006 Phor Thor in Penang.
Sources:
regiTour
Hungry Ghosts (Phor Thor) Festival
My Island-Penang.com
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