Why Do People Celebrate The Hungry Ghosts Festival On Behalf Of The Ghosts?

For thousands of years, many people have been deluded and superstitious.

Ghosts are beings in one of the three unwholesome realms of existence. Their suffering is too acute to be verbalized. Thus, there are neither festivals nor celebrations in the Realm of Ghosts.

Ironically, in the 7th lunar month every year, people arrange special programmes and celebrate on behalf of the ghosts, calling this month the Hungry Ghosts Festival!

The 15th day of the 7th lunar month is actually meant for all children to practise filial piety towards our present parents, parents of the past lives and even parents of the future lives. Hence, we should not celebrate the Hungry Ghosts Festival. Instead, we should celebrate "The Season of Filial Piety"!

In India, the rainy season lasts for three months yearly. It extends from the 15th day of the 4th lunar month to the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. Hence, it is very inconvenient for the Sangha to seek alms during this season.

The Buddha decided that all monks must practise diligently during these three months while staying indoors.

After practising for three months, many members of the sagely assembly attained The Way. Thus, the Buddhas in the ten directions rejoiced over their attainment.

In addition, on this day, the members of the sagely came together to discuss their individual progress during these three months. All merits and demerits had to declared openly to the assembly. Thus, this day is also known as the "Sangha Pravarana Day."

At the same time, Venerable Maudgalyayana's mother was suffering in the Realm of Hungry Ghosts. She had committed heavy negative karma due to stinginess and greed. She could not be saved by the spiritual strength of her son alone, neither could she be saved by all the earth spirits and heavenly gods. She could only be saved by the combined strength of the sagely Sangha in the ten directions who had attained the Way.

Hence, the Buddha instructed Venerable Maudgalyayana to make Ullambana offering to the sagely Sangha on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month or "The Buddhas' Happy Day". By doing so, the parents of the present and past lives would receive the blessings and their negative karma would be purified. Thus, this day is also known as "The Day of Filial Piety'.

For thousands of years, people have mistaken "The Day of Filial Piety" in the 7th lunar month as the Hungry Ghosts Festival. They say that the gates of the Realm of Hungry Ghosts would open in this month. From here, we can see how superstitious the Chinese can be!

If the Buddha had taught Venerable Maudgalyayana to make the 'Ullambana Offering" on the 15th day of the 6th lunar month (or on any other day), then, isn't it true that the 6th lunar month would be regarded as the Hungry Ghosts Festival?

Ghost are always around every day. Who says that they only appear during the 7th lunar month?