A debate that always seems to get stirred up around this time of the year is the issue of burning of incense offerings or "hell notes".

It centres around the question if those who observe Hungry Ghost Festival customs should get to carry on with their traditions unfettered -- more specifically, the burning of hell money for ancestors resulting in the offerings getting strewn all over.

Call to be considerate

Already, a Taoist priest, Chung Kwang Tong, has given his opinion on it.

Here is what he had to say:

Preserving "tradition" and "culture"? This is not.

Be considerate. Burn the joss offerings in the bins provided by the Town Councils.

The Taoist Federation, together with the Buddhist Federation and Wat Ananda Metyarama Thai Buddhist Temple had issued advisories for the past few years to remind followers to burn ALL joss offerings and not to toss it all over the vicinity.

Please remind friends and neighbour to be considerate and do not burn on the grass patches, drain covers, pavements or any public areas. Use the bins provided.

Do clear up the offerings after the prayers. The spirits won't physically take away the offerings and clear it for you. The cleaners will have to do so. Let's give them a helping hand ok? =)

A more succinct summary of that post was uploaded on Twitter.

[related_story]

Littering?

A Twitter user uploaded a video he took from his estate, with a very clear cut question.

Here is the video:

[video width="360" height="640" mp4="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2017/08/litterrrr.mp4"][/video]

Here is what was said in the video.

Man 1: Too many already

Man 2: Is this littering, or praying?

I don't understand already.

All this with the question "Littering or praying???" on the screen.

As you would expect from a binary question, the replies fell into two camps.

Littering

Praying

Maybe a bit more respect on both sides. For both cleanliness, and religion.