Yu Lan Cultural Festival to Mark Ghost Month to be Held at Victoria Park, from August 23-25

The upcoming Yu Lan Cultural Festival to commemorate the Hungry Ghost Festival will take place at Victoria Park from August 23-25, 2024. The three-day event will pay homage to Chinese traditions observed by the Chiu Chow community in the city. The highlights of the celebrations will be the Festival Treats competition, the Festival Offerings competition, exhibitions, guided tours, workshops, and the interactive experience ‘Yu Lan 100 Wishes’.

Visitors will get to watch the preliminary and final rounds of the Festival Treats Competition — a game that has its roots in the “grapple” among the homeless for food traditionally left outdoors for the ghosts of deceased ancestors. Participants will be grouped into teams of three, and each team has five minutes to throw rice packs at a platform while the other two teams must try to catch them. The team who grabs the most rice packs is crowned the winner. There will be a competition for schools on August 24, and another one open to the public on August 25.

The second day of the festival, August 24, will see the Festival Offerings Competition that symbolises filial respect to parents. This is a game for two-member teams who must place as many offerings as possible in a bowl. The team who can put most offerings in the bowl is declared the winner. Other events include the interactive Yu Lan 100 Wishes game, a Chiu Chow rice cake workshop, an origami workshop, and guided tours that require registration.

Header image credits: Hong Kong Tourism Board

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