HONG KONG – With glowing red eyes, a towering "Ghost King" presided over the lobby of a Hong Kong housing estate on Sunday as residents performed ancient rituals—a scene that may soon become history as redevelopment looms.
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| Taoist priests perform the 'Breaking Hell's Gate' ritual during the Hungry Ghost, or Yu Lan, festival at the Wah Fu Estate in Hong Kong -- the 'ghost king', his eyes glowing red, presides (far right) (Leung Man Hei) |
The Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as the Yu Lan Festival, is rooted in Chinese folk beliefs and marks the time in the seventh lunar month when the gates of hell open and spirits roam the mortal world.
The Wah Fu Estate, an aging cluster of public housing blocks with sprawling sea views, is famous for hosting some of Hong Kong's most elaborate ceremonies—featuring a paper effigy of the "Ghost King" and intricate, hand-folded decorations made by the residents themselves.
"This is a time for the ghosts to come to this universe," said sociologist Gary Wong, who helped organize this year's event. "It is also a time for the living people in this universe to consolidate their community."
But these old traditions will soon vanish as the estate is set to begin a process of demolition and redevelopment as early as next year.
Yiu Siu-fung, 73, remembers a time when many of Wah Fu's housing blocks held their own festivals, a practice born from a strong sense of community. Those events were halted in 2020 due to strict social distancing rules during the pandemic.
Organizers were dealt another blow in 2022 when the Hong Kong government disbanded the resident-run "mutual aid committees" in all public housing estates. The festivals at Wah Fu were revived this year on a smaller scale, thanks to support from a government-funded project.
"For the younger generation, very few participate in the Yu Lan festival," said Yiu, who has lived in the estate for over 20 years.
As night fell on Sunday, dozens watched rituals like "crossing the bridge" and "breaking the gates of hell" in the estate's elaborately designed main hall, a signature feature of the building's 1960s architecture.
Resident Janne Tsui, 25, had earlier joined in folding the delicate paper offerings after learning the technique in a workshop.
"I am personally worried that this kind of culture will be lost because the Wah Fu Estate is being demolished," she told AFP.
Tsui said her family is among those who will be relocated next year under the redevelopment plan. Participating as a volunteer was a way to "create more memories," she said.
"I used to find the [Hungry Ghost Festival] very scary, but now I feel moved by the changes of the times."
