Por Tor festival in September – A festival to remember ancestors!

Chong Fat, HK ShatinYuLanFestival KingOfGhost, CC BY-SA 3.0

For the people of the Hokkien Chinese community of Phuket, their ancestors are very much important as their living relatives and there is even a dedicated day on each year to remember their long-lost ancestors. They believe that on the first day of the new moon on the 7th lunar month, the gates of hell open and the spirits of their starving ancestors are given a chance to revisit their loved ones to enjoy a feast. This is the day during which the Hungry ghost festival begins!

The Hungry ghost festival or the Por Tor festival is about to kick off during August which is a unique and important festival celebrated by the Chinese people of Phuket. During the festival, several rituals and events such as lion dances, magic shows, live concerts will take place and are a spectacle to watch and to take part. as the purpose of the festival is to feed lost ancestors sweets such as red turtle cakes and other kinds of food and flowers are offered to on their altars. If you are stationed in any of the Phuket luxury villas in Thailand, the likes of Kata Rocks during the months of September you can witness and take part in this festival by visiting the nearest Chinese shrine.