GEORGE TOWN: Heavy smoke is giving way to cleaner skies this Hungry Ghost Festival, as urban communities embrace eco-friendly ways to honour tradition.
The efforts come as fires in Sumatra have begun affecting parts of Malaysia with haze, raising concerns over air quality.
At the densely packed flats near Lebuh Macallum, residents have moved the burning of incense and joss paper from the roadside to a designated communal area.
Gat Lebuh Macallum Residents Association chairman Lee Thuan Chye said the 21-storey block introduced brick-and-cement burning pits over a decade ago.
“With so many people living in a densely populated area, we need a proper place for residents to make their offerings.
“It allows us to continue the tradition in a cleaner and more organised way while preserving our heritage,” he said yesterday.
Lee said the area was used throughout the seventh lunar month, particularly on the first day and eve of the 15th day, with cleaners clearing the ashes afterwards.
Despite fewer young people observing such rituals, he said it was important to provide suitable facilities for those continuing the tradition.
Pertubuhan Perayaan Yu Lan in Bukit Mertajam has gone further to reduce smoke emissions during one of Penang’s largest Hungry Ghost Festival celebrations.
This year’s festival will feature an 8.9m-tall Tai Su Yeah (King of Hades) effigy, while traditional dragon-shaped joss sticks have been replaced with oil candles.
Association chairman Datuk Seri Peh Weng Kim said the changes would significantly reduce smoke.
“The banning of dragon joss sticks was one of the most critical steps we took. We replaced them with oil candles, and this has helped to reduce a lot of smoke in the air,” he said.
“We want to encourage a healthier and cleaner way of celebrating the festival while still preserving traditional practices.”
Peh said workers would remove joss sticks before they completely burned out, to prevent prolonged smoke, and regularly clear the ground of burnt joss paper.
He added that keeping smoke under control was particularly important as the celebration drew about 20,000 devotees to the temple in Bukit Mertajam on weekends.
Meanwhile, Seri Delima Voluntary Fire Brigade chief Tan Kok Peng said his team attended to about 15 such ceremonies each year.
“Many people gather to watch, so we are there mainly for safety,” he said, adding that the intense heat was a concern.
Tan said the intense burning during the ceremonies usually lasts about 10 minutes, followed by about an hour of cleaning.
“The flame is strong during this time, but there is actually little smoke. The burning is carried out in a designated space with a buffer around it,” he said.
The Hungry Ghost Festival is observed during the seventh lunar month, which runs from Aug 13 to Sept 10 this year, with the 15th day falling on Aug 27.
Large-scale burning of effigies and joss paper remains a key part of the ceremonies.
Devotees traditionally offer food, drinks and incense to wandering spirits, while burning joss paper and other offerings as a form of appeasement.
