Ghost Festival marked in HK (18)

An actor makes up before performing a devotional opera during the eve of Ghost Festival at Sai Wan in south China's Hong Kong, Aug. 20, 2015. In Chinese culture, the 15th day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is called Ghost Day or Ghost Festival and the seventh month is regarded as the Ghost Month. In Buddhism, the Ghost Day is also called Ullambana (Yu Lan or Yu Lan Pen in pinyin). In Hongkong, the custom on Ullambana was introduced by Chaozhou (Chiu Chow in Cantonese) people about 100 years ago. They still mark the Ullambana Festival in accordance with their home custom by worshipping the gods, showing respect to ancestors, and praying for blessings and protection. Ullambana custom was identified as Chinese national intangible cultural heritage in 2011. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)