For many younger Singaporeans, figuring out how to pray during the Hungry Ghost Festival can be mystifying. If your parents or grandparents used to handle the rituals and now you’re unsure where to start, don’t worry! By the end, you’ll be ready to observe this tradition respectfully, without feeling blur.
How to pray during the Hungry Ghost Festival?
1. Pick the right time & place
- Festival spans the entire seventh lunar month (23 August – 21 September 2025).
- Most families pray on the 1st, 15th, and last day of the month.
- Location-wise, you can pray at home, set up outdoors near your block, or at a family altar.
For outdoor prayers, use a safe open spot and always check if your area requires approval for large setups.
2. Prepare your offerings
Here’s what you’ll typically need:
- Food & drinks: Fruits, sweets, or simple vegetarian dishes like noodles and rice. Some families add their ancestors’ favourite snacks or drinks.
- Joss sticks (incense): Always prepare 3 sticks per prayer (we’ll explain why later).
- Candles: A pair of red candles for light and protection.
- Joss paper (incense paper): One of the most important (read on for more on the different types of joss paper)
- Optional extras: Tea, rice wine, or paper offerings like houses and clothes (symbolising gifts for the afterlife).
Arrange everything neatly. If indoors, place offerings before an altar or ancestor photo. Otherwise, set them out on clean paper or containers.
3. Conduct the prayer ritual
- Light three joss sticks and hold them at chest level.
- Bow three times in each direction:
- To the deities or sky.
- To your ancestors.
- To wandering spirits nearby.
- Speak from the heart, invite them to accept your offerings and bless your household.
If you come from a Taoist or Buddhist background, you might also recite scriptures or mantras at this point. But if you’re not familiar, it’s perfectly okay to speak normally. It’s the sincerity that counts.
4. Burn the joss paper
Sometimes, I’d also pua puay to find out if it’s all right to go ahead with burning the offerings. It’s the same, if both land on the same side, then it’s a no-go for now. Just give it a couple of minutes and toss them again.
- Use a metal can or incense burner.
- Joss paper folding (into gold ingots) is optional; sincerity is what counts.
- Add the paper gradually to the fire to avoid ash flying everywhere.
This ritual of incense paper burning symbolises transferring money and goods to the spirits. Think of it as sending them care packages in the afterlife.
5. Wrap up
One thing I usually do is pua puay, which is tossing two coins while asking if they’re done with the food. If both coins land on the same side, it means ‘no’.
- When the joss paper is fully burned and the joss sticks are almost done, thank the spirits quietly for accepting the offerings.
- You can deal with food offerings in different ways; any is fine, and you can simply follow your family’s tradition.
- Leave it there longer for “latecomer” spirits
- Discard or leave it: Some believe food has been “spiritually eaten”
- Share with family: Some see the food as “blessed”
- Make sure your offerings have been completely burned, and tidy up any packaging or leftover ashes.
What to burn during the Hungry Ghost Festival?
1. Incense (joss sticks)
- Usually offered in sets of three
- Acts as a spiritual “phone line,” carrying your prayers upward in smoke.
2. Joss paper (spirit money)
There are different types of joss paper, each with a specific use:
- Gold joss paper → for gods and higher deities.
- Silver joss paper → for ancestors and wandering spirits.
- Hell bank notes → modern spirit currency with huge denominations.
- Joss paper folding into ingots → symbolises wealth and prosperity.
Pro tip: Always fold or crease the paper before burning to show respect and to distinguish it from real money.
3. Paper replicas of goods
This is where things get creative. Today’s Chinese incense paper isn’t just money. You’ll also find:
- Houses & villas
- Cars & motorbikes
- Electronics (phones, laptops, TVs)
- Luxury goods (handbags, watches, even “designer” brands)
Burning these shows care for your ancestors’ comfort in the afterlife – and yes, it’s surprisingly relatable when you see paper iPhones or Air Jordans going up in smoke.
4. Paper clothing
Special paper crafted into traditional outfits (shòuyī), often included to keep spirits “warm” and properly dressed. A thoughtful extra touch in larger offerings, these clothes and shoes are also known as 纸扎衣/祖先衣 for clothes, and 纸扎鞋 for shoes.
5. Other ritual papers
- Deity Papers: Specific designs meant for Taoist or Buddhist gods.
- Boat-shaped Papers: Burned during the 7th Month to symbolise guiding spirits safely back to the underworld.
Learned how to pray Hungry Ghost Festival with confidence?
Praying during the 7th Month doesn’t need to be overwhelming. With just three joss sticks, some food offerings, and both gold and silver joss paper, you can perform a respectful ritual that keeps both ancestors and wandering spirits happy. More importantly, it’s about sincerity. Want to avoid rookie mistakes? Check out our list of Hungry Ghost Festival taboos!
