Challenges arise in Singapore’s Hungry Ghost festival due to improper joss paper burning

Despite government efforts to raise awareness of the proper burning of joss paper and effigies in designated areas, litter from ash, uneaten food offerings, and “ghost money” are still found strewn around public housing estates in squeaky-clean Singapore every August and September.

The period marks the Hungry Ghost festival, which takes place in the seventh month of the lunar calendar, during which believers observe the Chinese practice of burning offerings to the dead, including miniature paper cut-outs replicating afterlife luxuries.

Sociologists note that the government has initiated a ground-up approach by involving religious and community leaders to educate the community, yet tensions persist among residents regarding public cleanliness, highlighting the challenges faced by multi-ethnic and religious societies like Singapore.

A recent Reddit post depicting a densely packed housing block walkway covered in ashes and unburnt offerings sparked discussion, with one user questioning whether it was “reportable,” and others expressing frustration over the lack of consideration for public spaces.