Last week ushered the start of one of the major celebrations on the religious calendar, as Christians across the world celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ for the Easter holidays.
However, this Easter also marked another important cultural tradition for Hongkongers, the Ching Ming festival, also known as tomb sweeping festival.
During this period, ethnic Chinese people visit the burial grounds to pray before their ancestors, sweep their graves and burn incense and offerings.
Family members re-arrange flowers at a columbarium that houses the ashes of their ancestors at the Pokfulam Cemetery.
A woman burns incense and prays at the Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan.
Sunday’s Ching Ming festival was the hottest since records began in 1947, with temperatures reaching almost 32°C. There were more than 150 hill fires reported, supposedly caused by the the burning of incense and offerings.
The offerings consist of food, clothes and joss paper money to (allegedly) ensure their deceased ancestors do not experience shortages in the afterlife. Sometimes, the offerings also include paper replicas of homes, luxury cars, electronics and other earthly goods.
Photos: Kevin Dharmawan
