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This year, the seventh lunar month runs from August 8 to September 6.
The fifteenth day, August 22, marks the peak of the festival.
For the occasion, we asked our followers on Instagram to share their experiences from past Hungry Ghost Festivals.
While these can be chilling, some are actually heartwarming or even anti-climatic — in that realistic, could-have-happened-to-me way.
1. Uncle who lost his way
Photo by Shashivarman Kolandaveloo via Unsplash.
I had gone out one night and was taking a bus that was headed towards the mall.
Suddenly, someone tapped on my shoulder and asked, “Meimei, how many stops till the mall?”
I turned around and was faced with an old uncle who looked like he was above the age of 80.
I replied, “I think three more stops, uncle."
He subsequently thanked me before I turned back to face the front.
When the bus arrived at the bus stop near the mall, I turned back but did not see him at all. He could not have left so fast because I would have known and no one had alighted at that stop.
I thought I had missed seeing the uncle leave as he was no longer there anymore.
I got up and alighted from the bus to make my way home. When I walked past a HDB block, I noticed a funeral wake was being held at the void deck.
It turned out that it was the funeral wake of the uncle who had asked me about the stops.
I felt happy that I was able to see him smile and help him. Although it was a little scary, it was also heartwarming.
- @angely.nn
2. Long-haired "momok" at swimming pool
Photo by Valentina Conde via Unsplash.
I was swimming with the children when my three-year-old daughter suddenly packed her toys and prepared to leave.
I asked her why was she in such a hurry, to which she replied, "Momok," which means "ghost".
When we were in the lift, I asked her how did the momok look like, and she gave me a detailed description.
"Long hand. Eyes... Big. Black nose long.. Mouth big, teeth sharp, fingers long, and long hair."
Freaky.
- @baksobibikpodas
3. Hungry cat eats offerings
Photo by Karen Lui for illustrative purposes.
Once, I saw someone put cat food as an offering so I asked why.
The person said it was because a cat would always eat the offerings and they were scared that the food they had put out as offerings were bad for the cat.
I’m not sure why but I found it so cute.
- Anya, 14
4. Crying woman in room
Photo by Nathan DeFiesta via Unsplash.
As I was preparing to turn in for the night, I saw a lady in my room.
Wearing just a shirt and shorts, she appeared somewhere between her late 30s and early 40s. She had medium hair length with a very strong alcohol smell emanating from her.
She was covering her face and was crying in regret.
She told me that she didn't have any money. She was a hardcore gambler and regretted destroying her life.
She had a very strong and intense energy.
I told her it was okay for her to sit down with me.
She felt that she did not make full use of her life and had caused a lot of problems in her family. Even though she had passed, she still carried these regrets with her and could not feel at peace.
Her death was unexpected to her as she assumed she still had a lot of time.
I held her hand and said, "You are here because you know you need help and I hear that you cannot be at peace with this regret, but your time is up and I will help you seek a path in the afterlife."
She looked at me while crying and hugged me before continuing on her way.
When I opened my eyes, I could still feel her energy on me. These experiences take a lot from a person and it definitely affects me, especially the next day.
When I went to work, I lit my joss sticks as usual.
I prayed for the lost spirit and hoped she would find peace and guidance. Then, I prepared some traditional joss items like clothing, money, etc, and put them by the altar before burning them.
I have never seen that lady again.
- Welwei, 25
5. Pet dog returns home
Photo by Jon'Nathon Stebbe via Unsplash.
When my first dog named "Friendly" passed, my dad mentioned that she had returned home a couple of times but that was a much longer time ago.
Last year, as I was about to fall asleep, I could suddenly smell her.
I went downstairs and saw her in the living room.
I immediately went over to hug her, and started crying while welcoming her home.
However, I was unable to take photos and videos of her as I was in a dream realm.
When I woke up, I still had her smell on my hands.
We had buried her in my garden with a dog statue. Every seventh month, we make small offerings to her too so when she comes home, she would feel welcomed.
- Welwei, 25
Context: Welwei, who has contributed two stories here, is the second-generation owner of a family temple business. With a medium for a father, the 25-year-old is very much in touch with her spiritual abilities.
6. Fourth floor lift lobby
Photo by @shawnanggg via Unsplash.
There was this one time when my sister came home super late and she took the lift as per normal.
The lift stopped at the fourth floor, which was in complete darkness as all the corridor lights were off.
She immediately closed the lift door and continued her way back home to the twelfth floor where we stayed.
Nothing happened after that.
- Phoebe, 20
Quotes have been edited for clarity and grammar.
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Top images by Shashivarman Kolandaveloo on Unsplash and Rachel Ng.