The Ghost Festival is celebrated in the seventh lunar month, which falls between August 22 and September 19 this year, is a very important month for people living in Taiwan because it is the so-called “Ghost Month.” Legend has it that the gates of hell are opened on the first day of the lunar month to allow wandering ghosts and spirits of the nether realm, including those of their ancestors and other deceased loved ones, to enter into the mortal world to enjoy sacrificial offerings until the end of the month. To honor this, people celebrate the Ghost Festival.
Please watch the following video of the spectacular Ghost Festival celebrations in Keelung:
To celebrate, households prepare various sacrificial items at a temple or on temporary altars set up in front of their homes for ancestors, deceased loved ones, or wandering ghosts. This is the so-called Chung Yuan Pudu (中元普度), or General Salvation. The festive activities culminate on the 15th day of the lunar month, which is known as the Chung Yuan Festival (中元節).
A float at the grand parade for the Keelung Ghost Festival 2017 (Image: Billy Shyu/ Nspirement)
The Chung Yuan Festival is celebrated in various places across Taiwan, but the most spectacular celebration is in Keelung, a small port city in northern Taiwan. It is called the Keelung Chung Yuan Festival (基隆中元節), also known as the Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival (雞籠中元祭).
The Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival
The Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival has been selected by Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau as one of 12 major festivals in Taiwan, and the celebrations have been organized annually since 1856 by 15 local clan associations. This year, the celebrations were organized by the He (何), Lan (藍), and Han (韓) clan associations.
One of the highlights of the celebrations in Keelung is a grand parade held on the evening of the 14th day, and just before the release of water lanterns (放水燈) by each clan association. The grand parade included dozens of colorful theme-based floats sponsored by the clan associations and various public and civic organizations.
The Falun Dafa Tian Guo Marching Band at the Keelung Ghost Festival 2017. (Image: Lin Zhi-Yen, Keelung)
The long procession wound its way through the main streets of downtown Keelung and attracted numerous locals and visitors from outside Keelung.
Some temples in Keelung also participate in the grand parade observing the Keelung Ghost Festival 2017. (Image: Niou Chi-Ping/ Nspirement)
In addition to a variety of cultural and folklore performances, one of the most striking scenes of the parade was a performance by Taiwan’s Falun Dafa Association. It included a stunning float followed by the Tian Guo Marching Band, composed of some 200 practitioners, and the Waist Drum Troupe, comprising 70 members. Members also gave away colorful paper-folded lotus flowers to spectators all along the parade route.
The ritual of a Grand Pudu (General Salvation) is conducted by a Buddhist master at the Main Altar (主普壇) for the Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival 2017. (Image: Juliet Fu/Nspirement)
Another highlight of the Ghost Festival is the Grand Pudu (General Salvation), held in front of the richly decorated Main Altar (Zhupu Altar,主普壇) at the Keelung Zhong Zheng Park on the afternoon of the 15th day of the lunar month. Local residents prepared offerings and carried them to the Main Altar to join in the rituals conducted by a Buddhist master.
Due to increased awareness of animal welfare, people craft animals as sacrifices nowadays. (Image: Billy Shyu/Nspirement)
In the past, local residents used to prepare sacrificial pigs, goats, chicken, ducks, and fish for offerings. However, due to increased awareness of animal welfare, people craft animals as sacrifices nowadays.
A crocodile made of a bitter gourd and flour dough is served as a sacrifice at the Keelung Ghost Festival. (Image: Billy Shyu/Nspirement)
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