Over 1,000 devotees take part in ceremony to mark Hungry Ghost Festival in Sibu

SIBU (Aug 19): Over 1,000 devotees took part in an offering ceremony marking the Hungry Ghost Festival on Sunday night at the Sibu Fong Hwang San Ur Par Wang Kong Temple.

The ceremony involved the burning of a ship which measured about 60 feet long, 50 feet high and 12 feet wide.

According to the temple’s chairman Ting Chuo Won, the vessel was much larger than last year’s.

“It took us less than a month to construct the ship from bamboo and paper materials. Our temple members helped to build the ship,” he told The Borneo Post.

Ting said to the best of his knowledge, only the Sibu Fong Hwang San Ur Par Wang Kong Temple had such a ceremony of burning a ship.

Meanwhile, Sibu MP Oscar Ling said the temple’s annual event had attracted many people, including non-devotees, to witness the occasion.

“This is because the event is quite unique, as it involves burning a ship. This is a traditional Chinese event, which can be promoted as a tourism product in Sibu.

“Last night at Tua Pek Kong Temple, they had quite a similar event but did not involve the burning of a ship,” he said.

On the rationale behind the ceremony, Ling said it was believed burning a ship symbolised sending the souls of the departed to where they originate.

Also present was Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng.