The Chinese give offerings to ghosts every seventh month of the lunar calendar to seek general well-being. This type of activity, which originates from Chinese folk customs, is known as “Hungry Ghost Festival” in Singapore. Activities for the Hungry Ghost Festival is extremely common in Singapore because of the significant role played by groups that organise such activities (中元会). These groups can be found everywhere in Singapore, and fall into four categories:

1. Groups comprising merchants in shopping malls or neighbourhood centres;
2. Groups comprising stall owners in wet markets or hawker centres;
3. Groups comprising factory workers;
4. Groups comprising residents of housing estates or streets.

It is worth mentioning that besides organizing temple activities, the Lorong Koo Chye Sheng Hong Temple Association and its group of members who organise activities for the Hungry Ghost Festival, were also enthusiastic about serving the community and actively participated in activities that promote racial and religious harmony. (Lianhe Wanbao, 25/8/2018)

盂兰盆会 (Hong Kong and Taiwan)

In a group that organises activities for the Hungry Ghost Festival, there are two persons-in-charge, namely the Censer Master (“炉主”) and the Organiser (“头家”). The altar owner is appointed by rotation and re-elected every year through the drawing of divination lots before the gods and is mainly responsible for preparing ritual activities. On the other hand, people who are willing to contribute funds and efforts, are invited to serve as the Organiser. The Organiser assists in handling matters related to the “salvation rituals” (“作普渡”), including organising banquets, hiring getai singers and troupes, purchasing and distributing offerings, and serving as auctioneers.