KUCHING – Lushan Temple in Kuching held its annual Hungry Ghost Festival celebration, with Batu Kitang State Assemblyman Dato’ Ir Lo Khere Chiang attending the event as an invited guest.
Lo, who is also an engineer and Honorary Advisor to the temple’s Construction Committee, joined members of the temple and the local community for the annual observance.
The event formed part of the temple’s activities to mark the Hungry Ghost Festival, a traditional observance that is widely commemorated by Chinese communities in Malaysia and elsewhere.
In a statement following the event, Lo thanked the temple for inviting him and for the hospitality extended during the celebration.
He also highlighted the role of community events in maintaining traditional culture and bringing people together.
“Together we can carry on traditional culture and unite the community,” he said.
The annual celebration provides an opportunity for members of the temple community to gather and observe cultural and religious traditions associated with the Hungry Ghost Festival.
The festival is traditionally observed during the seventh month of the lunar calendar and is associated with rituals and offerings intended to honour ancestors and wandering spirits.
At the local level, such celebrations can also serve as community gatherings, bringing together temple members, residents and invited guests.
Lo’s attendance reflects his involvement with the temple’s Construction Committee, where he serves as an honorary adviser. His participation also underscored the community aspect of the event beyond its religious observance.
The celebration at Lushan Temple comes as communities across Kuching continue to observe traditional festivals and cultural occasions throughout the year.
For organisers and participants, events such as the Hungry Ghost Festival provide a setting for cultural practices to be maintained and shared between generations.
The temple’s annual programme also offers an opportunity for members of the wider community to take part in or learn more about traditions associated with the festival.
While the event remains rooted in traditional religious and cultural practices, community participation has also become an important feature of many local celebrations.
Lo expressed appreciation to the temple for its invitation and hospitality, while reiterating the importance of preserving cultural traditions and fostering community ties.
The celebration concluded another annual observance at the Kuching temple, with participants gathering to mark the occasion and maintain a longstanding cultural tradition.
