Today is the last day of the one month long Hungry Ghost Festival. And what a way to end this day. It was pure excitement for the kids!

They watched ‘Finding Nemo’ on Disney Channel which started at 7.30pm, covering their eyes every now and then as they see Nemo’s daddy braved through all the obstacles and dangers, then almost broke into tears at the beginning and the end of the show when they saw Nemo and his Daddy separated… though I LOVE Dory and she still makes me laugh out loud even when I’ve already watched this twice before, looking at their expressions were more entertaining than the cartoon itself…

anyhow, the REAL excitement came when (as if it was planned) Nemo ended at 9pm, the drums started. Did you ask what drums? Lion Dance and Dragon Dance drums!!!! My kids’ love-of-their-life! That’s the procession to END the Hungry Ghost Festival!

I’m not sure about other parts of Singapore, but my place is HOT when it comes to this yearly festival where the Chinese believes that the gate of hell opens up and the ‘officials below’ allow the ghosts to come to earth to have a ONE MONTH HOLIDAY!

Allan was the first to jump to his feet. Popped his head out of the window and went, “ITS LION DANCE!!! LET’S GO!!!” Totally unprepared. Kids were still in shocked after the roller-coaster emotions they went through watching the 1hour 30mins movie.

But my ‘Big Kid’ slipped into his T-shirt in lightning speed and scooped up his 2 kids to the shoe rack, “QUICK! QUICK!” he demanded. It all happened too fast, I didn’t even bring the camera….*sigh* The following shots were taken from my ‘Big Kid’s’ handphone, which have very bad results for night shots….maybe by brightening up your monitor may help…(hope you guys can get a glimpse of what the procession was like)

There was the brightly lilted lorry which led the way, it was walk of about 400m and my boys followed ALL THE WAY. Right behind the lorry were the ‘Lions‘ , followed by the colorful Fishes and the Phoenix, then the Golden Dragon, then the Huge Flag Pole and last but not least the ‘White Officer’ who guards the gates of hell’, who is surrounded by huge groups of people.

It was believed that the ‘White Officer’ who guards the gates of hell will possess an appointed person from the temple and then the human with ‘him‘ in him will take this walk as a sign that the one month fun is over. ‘He‘ would make lots of stops , as if he was reluctant to go back ‘home‘. The whole procession takes about 2hours, boy oh boy I would take lots of breaks too, if I were him! When he stops, the whole procession stops!

Throughout the journey, ‘he‘ is supported by 2 to 3 men, grabbing him by the armpits. ‘He‘ does fall occasionally too…so its important that ‘he‘ is well supported. It was believed that all these absurd behaviour is controlled by the ‘White Officer‘, who is in the possessed man…Anyhow, these are just for information purposes. I DO NOT BELIEVE IN SUCH BELIEFS!

But the BEST PART was this!!!!!

‘Cos Keatkeat and Binbin were waving at all the performers throughout the entire walk, they seemed to have become my boys’ friends.

And before everything ended, one of the lion dancer used the furry Lion Head to play with Keatkeat. Can you see that HUGE smile on Keatkeat’s face?! (ok, you can’t. *Urggghhh* why didn’t I bring my camera!!!)

On the way home, Keatkeat couldn’t put his lips together. He was going, “The lion head tickled me!….and I touch his mustache….and I squeezed his ball-ball (which is his nose)….and I stroke him….and…and…” He just went on and on and on…

So goodbye to the food offerings that’s seen along the pavements everywhere….

Goodbye to the joss sticks and candles….

Goodbye to the big burning containers used for the burning of the paper money meant for the believers’ loved ones who have passed on….

Goodbye to some of the burnt pavements and grasses…some people still prefers to burn the ‘dead-people’s money’ on the grasses and the floor, thinking that it will ‘reach‘ their love ones faster, you know, the floor is nearer to the ‘underground’….*eyes rolled*

And not forgetting to say goodbye to the temporary structures that were built up for this unusual month. Structures that ‘house‘ the Chinese Opera Shows, the ge-tai (song-stage), the auction floor, the praying grounds and last but not least, the ice-cream man, with his super bright white fluorescent lamp, who is always present when there is a performance going on, on stage….. *Phew!* What a month!