It's time for Ghost Month again. This happens in July of the lunar calendar, and this year, it seems to be bigger than ever. People burn money (paper money, which is purchased with real money) and have tables of food offerings set out to appease the gods and the ancestors. Part of the beliefs are that your ancestors' spirits are released during this month, and in order to please them, they need money and food.
This photo was taken in Dashe Village, where the piles of food offerings appear to be a lot bigger than the last several years. The cauldrons that are used to burn money also seem to be a lot larger as well, and the flames from the burning also appear to be higher and hotter than before. My theory is that people are trying to appease the spirits that have supposedly caused so much calamity with Typhoon Morakot.
A ghost month event outside one of the biggest temples in Dashe.
I think those are burnt-out incense sticks.
People with their plastic bags of paper money, throwing
them into the giant fire pit, sacrificing to the gods/ancestors.
(Above) A puppet theatre across from the temple. I think the plays are all religious?
(Left) Another fire burning outside of the same
large temple, at dusk.
The burning money with a VERY large table of foods for the gods/
ancestors underneath the tent.
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