The Hungry Ghost Festival is upon us. Taking place on the seventh month of the Lunar calendar (which is Aug 3-31 this year), this is a time when the gates of the underworld unleashes its spirits to roam among the living. It’s also a time for those who observe the festival to burn incense and paper effigies for their deceased ancestors.
If you’ve ever wondered about what goes on behind the scenes of making papier-mâché traditional offerings, watch this documentary about the master craftsmen in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. Every year, this trio of artists in the Malaysian town build majestic, intricate structures depicting the King of Ghosts for the festival.
When the time comes, they set fire to their handmade creation as an offering, and step back to watch the flames engulf their three months of hard work in just five minutes. Then they pack up and get ready to do it all over again the next year.
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