Ghost festival or Phor Thor

Chinese ghost festival started in 1st July according to Chinese lunar calendar (on 1st August,2011). Hokkien people call as "Phor Thor" for this festival. The gate of heaven and hell is open and allow all the spirits of deceased relatives and friends to come back to this living world. All the spirits need to go back before the gate on the 15 days. The God (King of Hades) that chinese pray is called as Tai Su Yah in Hokkien. So yesterday the prayers and celebration started.

The Tai Su Yah statue is a bit fierce in looks and more than 20 feet. Around the altar, there were many colourful paper flags and also the items for praying to the God. There were also many folded paper in pineapple and money shapes. In Bukit Mertajam, the local people put this Tai Su Yah statue under temporary awning in front of the shop houses between Jalan Pasar and Jalan Ooh Chooi Chong. "Pek Gong Biu" in hokkien or Pek Gong temple just besides.

I was told for a story, a very long time ago, a mother took a lot of praying foods and items to pray to the God. At that time, her hands were full with all these items, so she temporary put the baby on the altar. After she finished her prayer and the baby also had died. So the Chinese parents mostly will not bring along thiers' young children to go and pray together. They scared that the children will accidently say any offence words or do anything offenced to the Gods. The local adults will also do the same, never say any offence words when go for prayer. Local women also will not go to pray if they have the menstruation during that time. Mostly local people will take the shower before go to pray Tai Su Yah. Old people will advice the young people to stay at home at night or don't go out late at night and some will tell them not to go near to the water area such as swimming at river or sea.

The business people often pray with roasted pig too. At the altar, there were many fruits, roasted chicken, pork, many types of kuih (Hokkien pronounciation) such as mo ho kuih, bak chang, pao, miku, kuih koci, cai kuih..etc
In the afternoon and evening,according to the strong financial of the committe in that area or temples. They will organize the Chinese stage opera (" hee tai" in Hokkien), Chinese Karaoke or music band ("go tai" in Hokkien dialect) or puppet show in front of the temples. Actually this performance is for the deceased people and living people to watch. The days of having these shows also depend of the financial of the temple or committe.

For the whole period of the opera shows. There will set up a place with many Chinese hawkers stalls to sell the local foods or some foods which seldom make in the ordinary days.