Hungry Ghost Festival

[HKdave]

Haven't posted for a few months - been taking photos, just not had the time to process anything :confused:

These were taken last August at the Hungry Ghost Festival. This festival is held all over Hong Kong and is sometimes referred to as the Chinese Halloween. The gates of hell are opened for a month and the spirits roam the earth and are worshipped with offerings. At the end of the month, elaborate Taoist ceremonies and banquets are held to honour the ghosts.

This particular ceremony is held in Central just minutes from the CBD. Furnaces are set up in the street for the burning of offerings and monks perform various ceremonies to honour the spirits. The blue faced Tai Si Wong (Hell's Policeman) watches over the proceedings. At the end of the festival, he is beaten, burnt and sent back to Hell until next year's ceremony.

Unfortunately, redevelopment threatens the area and like much of old Hong Kong, this may mean the end of another slice of culture.

C & C welcome. All photos taken with Canon 450, 1 and 2 taken with 50mm 1.4, 3, 4 and 5 taken with 17-85mm kit lens.

1. Ghosts paper clothing
http://hkdave.smugmug.com/photos/381720812_E2Cx5-M.jpg

2. Taoist Monk
http://hkdave.smugmug.com/photos/509961167_ceYVt-M.jpg

3. Furnaces on the Street
http://hkdave.smugmug.com/photos/432669955_2Bnr5-M.jpg

4. Prayers over the elaborate ghost's banquet
http://hkdave.smugmug.com/photos/431628757_PnHVV-M.jpg

5. Offerings to Taai Si Wong
http://hkdave.smugmug.com/photos/508729396_mANG2-M.jpg

[jgrussell]

#3 is the money shot out of these.

[shadowkipper]

I agree with jgrussell

[korrektor]

I would put #1 on my wall for the colors, though I would like to see more symmetry here. Keep # 3 though :)

[Dorman]

The colors in # 1 are great, and I really like the journalistic style to #5, but #3 is the best of the bunch. 2 and 4 are decent snaps, but not as good as the others.

[Jpiano]

like # 3! great shots!

[Casek McHaggis]

I really like #3 also, great shot.

[HKdave]

jgrussell #3 is the money shot out of these.shadowkipper I agree with jgrussellJpiano like # 3! great shots!Casek McHaggis I really like #3 also, great shot.Thanks for the comments. Glad you like the photo.

korrektor I would put #1 on my wall for the colors, though I would like to see more symmetry here. Keep # 3 though :smile:One of the things I like about these festivals is the colour. Glad you like the photos.

Dorman The colors in # 1 are great, and I really like the journalistic style to #5, but #3 is the best of the bunch. 2 and 4 are decent snaps, but not as good as the others.I was looking for the documentary style for these photos. Thanks for the comment. Here are a few more.

6. Tattooed worshipper
http://hkdave.smugmug.com/photos/509961576_xugMN-M.jpg

7. Carrying the god to safety
This small ceramic statue is placed on the chest of Taai Si Wong for the duration of the festival (you can just see it below his chin in photo #5). She is removed by the village head and placed back in the village hall before the paper effigy of Taai Si Wong is beaten and burnt and sent back to hell.

http://hkdave.smugmug.com/photos/508730437_dMK47-M.jpg

The full set can be found here http://hkdave.smugmug.com/gallery/5791065_8nUHu/1/381714714_SPjng
Thanks again for the comments.