Association for the Celebration of Teong Guan Festival Setapak chairman Lim (seated, fourth from left), Eng Heng (seated, sixth from left), Andre (back row, fourth from left) with other association members involved in the Hungry Ghost Festival posing for a group picture at the Luck Ong Keong Temple.
THE first Hungry Ghost Festival in Kuala Lumpur is believed to have started more than a century ago.
According to the Association for the Celebration of Teong Guan Festival, Setapak, the inaugural ritual happened before 1912.
“We did try to find out the exact date of the first ritual for the festival, but we could not find any records of it,” said association committee member Ng Soo Teng.
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“However, my grandfather, who was involved in organising the Hungry Ghost Festival celebration back then, opened a noodle shop in 1912.
“During that time, the celebration was already an ongoing affair along Jalan Pahang.
“It was the biggest celebration in Kuala Lumpur then,” he told StarMetro when met at Luck Ong Keong Temple, in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur.
Ng says Hungry Ghost Festival was first observed locally more than 112 years ago.
Association quartermaster Yee Chuan Seng said the area where the ritual was first held, now known as Jalan Pahang, had a lot of traffic accidents.
“People then believed that it was due to wandering spirits in the area, so residents from five nearby villages came together to perform rites and prayers to help deceased souls move on.
“After the rites were done, accidents significantly reduced in the area.
“Since then, the Por Tor (Hungry Ghost Festival) has been held at the site annually,” he said.
Villagers from the five villages then formed a group and each village took turns organising the festival along Jalan Pahang.
The event had to be moved to SJK(C) Chong Hwa some 30 years ago, noted Yee.
“It was said to have caused massive traffic congestion in the area.
“Luckily, one of the association members was also in the school’s board of directors.
“He allowed the festival to be held at the school field starting that year,” he said.
Yee says the area where Jalan Pahang is now located was known for its many road accidents.
Association treasurer Lai Eng Heng said the statue of Da Shi Ye (guardian god of the ghosts) was a feature at the festival
“Folklore has it that Da Shi Ye is actually an incarnation of Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy.
“According to the stories, Guan Yin wanted to help wandering spirits but was disrespected.
“So, the goddess changed to an intimidating face to scare and control restless spirits.
“One can actually find a figure of Guan Yin resting on top of Da Shi Ye,” he said.
Yee added that many still believed in the rituals as devotees’ prayers were answered.
“It is quite mysterious in some ways, but devotees must do what they have promised the gods once their prayers are answered.
“If not, they might experience bad luck,” he said.
This year the association will also hold a charity sale in conjunction with the festival where proceeds will be donated to SJK(C) Chong Hwa.
Wangsa Maju PKR chief Andre Lai said the festival remained an important event among the Chinese community.
“I view it as a cultural heritage and Malaysia is one of the few countries that still marks it.
“I hope the younger generation will not let the tradition die out. Don’t see it purely as a religious festival, but as a cultural one as well,” Andre added. — By JAROD LIM
