With the arrival of Ghost Month, the National Immigration Agency (NIA) podcast program “Culture Chatroom” invited Linda, an Indonesian new immigrant, and Zhang Li-Ying, a Myanmarese (Burman) new immigrant, to talk about the fascinating folk customs and special legends of their mother countries, leading the audience into foreign cultures and lifting the veil of mystery.
The seventh month of the Lunar calendar in Taiwan is the Ghost Month, also known as “Hungry Ghost Festival”. The “good brothers” are released to the human world after the gate to Underworld is opened. In general, people carry out activities of worshiping ghosts, and pray for smoother life during Ghost month. But there are also many taboos, such as not patting others shoulders, not going to the beach or playing in the water, and avoiding buying new houses or moving during the festival.
Linda, the Indonesian new immigrant, shared that there are about 300 different ethnic groups in Indonesia. Some of the groups’ customs are similar to “Hungry Ghost Festival” in Taiwan. For example, some Indonesian elders asked children to stay away from water, to avoid drying clothes or whistling at night, and to throw petals on graves. Although Indonesian does not have “Hungry Ghost Festival”, there is a village called Toraja on South Sulawesi in Indonesia. In memory of the deceased, the villagers open coffins of their family members, tidy up their appearance, put new clothes and hats on them, and carry them through the streets in the village every three years.
Zhang Li-Ying, the Myanmarese (Burman) new immigrant, said that the custom in Myanmar (Burma) and Taiwan are much alike. The concept of “Hungry Ghost Festival” is also deeply ingrained. For instance, in the seventh month on Lunar calendar, it is crucial that people should go home earlier, not trim nails at night, and children should wear charms for safety’s sake. Also, the deceased is regarded as the guardian in Myanmar (Burma). When people passed away or on the anniversary of their death, their family and friends usually prepare all kinds of paper-tie objects and Buddhist cassock for the Master to hold a puja for the family and friends to pray for the deceased to be safe and secure in another world.
Su Hui-Wen, the director of the Taipei City Service Station, reminded that the up-coming nine-in-one elections will be held on Nov.26. Bribery and vote buying are illegal, to prevent the bribery and violence from intervening the election, please call the hotlines (02) 2239-6393 or 0800-024-099 to report the crime.
For more entertainment on podcast, please search “Culture Chatroom” or click the links below https://open.firstory.me/user/culturechatroom