Woman films herself picking up Hungry Ghost Festival offerings, says fruits expensive in S’pore

A woman has reportedly drawn backlash after she apparently filmed herself picking up fruit by the road offered during the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore.

During the Hungry Ghost Festival, Taoists and Buddhists traditionally offer food and burn joss paper.

"Fruit is so expensive in Singapore"

According to Shin Min Daily News, a woman who claimed to be from Sichuan, China, and works as a bus driver in Singapore, attracted attention after allegedly filming herself picking up fruit that had been left as offerings by the roadside.

In the now-deleted video, the woman was seen squatting by the roadside and picking up apples and oranges.

She reportedly smiled at the camera and said: "It’s not easy to work abroad. We have to save every penny. Fruit is so expensive in Singapore!"

In another part of the video, she picked up an orange and said: "I picked up the fruit that I offered to the Bodhisattva today, so this doesn’t count as stealing. I also thanked the Bodhisattva."

The video was subsequently circulated online, sparking heated discussion among members of the public.

Some expressed concern that taking the offerings could offend entities during the Hungry Ghost Festival, while others raised concerns about the safety of consuming food that had been left outdoors.

Some also said that if the offerings had been abandoned, giving the food to people who needed it would be preferable to letting it go to waste.

The video did not show the woman eating the fruit at the end.

Offerings should not be disturbed or consumed

Speaking to Shin Min, a folklore expert said roadside offerings made during the Hungry Ghost Festival should not be disturbed or consumed, and that doing so is considered a major taboo.

Unlike offerings made to a specific deity or one’s ancestors, roadside offerings are traditionally believed to be meant for wandering spirits.

She also said it was inappropriate to deliberately challenge such customs to attract attention, adding that even non-believers should respect traditional practices.

To make amends, she suggested that the woman return to the original location, accompanied by someone familiar with the customs, and make additional offerings while sincerely apologising.