Chinese Indonesians throw fake money to honour their ancestors during the Hungry Ghost Festival in Medan, North Sumatra August 31, 2012. During the festival, Chinese perform ritual prayers so that the spirit-soul of their ancestors will go to heaven. According to tradition, ghosts and spirits are believed to come out from hell to visit earth during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar called the Ghost Month. Picture taken August 31, 2012. REUTERS/Y.T Haryono
A man throws paper money to a burning statue of the Chinese deity “Da Shi Ye” or “Guardian God of Ghosts” during the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival in Kajang, outside Kuala Lumpur, August 19, 2010. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, when prayers are offered to the dead and offerings of food and paper-made models of items such as televisions, refrigerators and sport cars are burnt to appease the wandering spirits. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during the month and the dead ancestors return to visit their relatives. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad
Chinese Indonesians prepare offerings for their ancestors during the Hungry Ghost Festival in Medan, North Sumatra August 31, 2012. During the festival, Chinese perform ritual prayers so that the spirit-soul of their ancestors will go to heaven. According to tradition, ghosts and spirits are believed to come out from hell to visit earth during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar called the Ghost Month. Picture taken August 31, 2012. REUTERS/Y.T Haryono
A performer sings at a “Getai”, Mandarin for song stage, in Singapore August 15, 2013. The song stages, featuring animated singers in glittering costumes belting out Hokkien, Cantonese and Mandarin hits, are held in many neighbourhoods throughout Singapore during the “Hungry Ghost month” on the seventh lunar month, when spirits are believed to freely roam the earth, to entertain the living and the dead. Picture taken August 15, 2013. REUTERS/Edgar Su
Paper replicas of servants which are believed to be used by ghosts after being burned are seen for sale for the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival in Hong Kong August 20, 2013. The Ghost Festival, also known as Yu Lan, is a traditional Chinese festival on the 15th night of the seventh month of the Chinese calendar. In Chinese tradition, the month is regarded as the Ghost Month, in which ghosts and spirits, including those of deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm to visit the living. Worshippers prepare ritualistic food offerings and burn joss paper – a paper form of material items – for the ghost. Other paper items in the form of clothes, gold and other fine goods are also burnt for the visiting spirits of the ancestors to show respect. Picture taken August 20, 2013. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
A Malaysian of Chinese ethnicity prays after burning joss paper money during Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival in Kuala Lumpur August 19, 2013. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, when prayers are offered to the dead and offerings of food and paper-made models of items such as televisions, refrigerators and sport cars are burnt to appease wandering spirits. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during the month and dead ancestors return to visit their relatives. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad