Hundreds offer prayers at George Town columbarium for Hungry Ghost Festival

GEORGE TOWN: Hundreds of families thronged the Leng How Koe Columbarium & Funeral Parlour in Paya Terubong to offer prayers to their ancestors in conjunction with the 15th day of "ghost month", the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Many came with children from as early as 6am Sunday (Aug 18) for the festival known as Phor Thor.

United Hokkien Cemeteries honorary chairman Datuk Cheah Cheng Ean said the columbarium gates would be open to the public until 6pm.

"We expect more than two thousand devotees to come here for prayers," he said.

In the Chinese lunar calendar, the seventh month is considered as ghost month, with the Hungry Ghost Festival falling on the 15th day.

This year, ghost month started on Aug 4 and ends on Sept 5.