Chung Yuan Festival Date: October 26, 2009
Chung Yuan Festival is a festival in the Far East.
The Chung Yuan Festival is not an actual festival; rather it is a religious period lasting about a month in the Lunar Calendar. People pray for their dead ancestors during this period and they pray that the ghosts do not come to haunt them or their loved ones. People during this festival are also very careful in doing almost anything that is deemed risky. The best way to enjoy this festival is to visit all the big temples to pray to the multitude of TAO Gods. That would be very interesting experience. As a day, Taiwan commemorates September 3.
History of Chung Yuan Festival
Chung Yuan Pudu originated on the birthday of the Chinese Guardian of Hell, according to Taoist beliefs. The Guardian’s birthday is on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. The Guardian decreed that out of mercy all the wandering ghosts could visit the world of the living on the 1st day of the seventh lunar month. These spirits return to the mortal world to enjoy the offerings prepared by the living for one month. In this way, they have the chance to be rescued and converted back to “The Way”.
It is believed that during the 1st year of Emperor Hsienfeng, Ching Dynasty (1851) that the Chung Yuan festival in Keelung started. Strife between settlers from Changchou and those from Chuanchou in mainland China became so violent that many lived were lost in the conflict. After the ceasefire, people performed salvation for the souls of the dead. These salvation ceremonies soon replaced the armed conflict.
Chung Yuan Festival Traditions, Customs and Activities
In Taiwan, the ceremony held in Keelung is one of the most spectacular Chung Yuan festivals known. The festival begins with the opening of the gates of Hades on the 1st day of the seventh lunar month. In the evening, every family in Keelung lights a lamp to light the way for ghosts. People light the lamps at Chuputan on the 12th day.
A parade of bucket lamps through the streets is held and greeted by attendants on the 13th day.The parade is held on the evening of the 14th day for releasing the water lanterns that were contributed by each clan. This is the pinnacle of all the activities for the entire month. Then at 11:00 in the night, the water lanterns are launched at the seashore of Wanghai Lane in Patoutzu harbor. If one clan’s lantern floats the fastest, that clan is believed to prosper most in the year to come.
