20% discount for all incense-related products, including sage and incense burners, from August to September 20, 2025.

HUNGRY GHOST MONTH – AUGUST 23 – SEPTEMBER 21, 2025

Every year, the seventh month of the Chinese Lunar calendar ( August 23  – September 21, 2025) in Asia, especially in China, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, is known as the Hungry Ghost Month. The Hungry Ghost Festival will take place on the evening of August 23, 2025, according to the Chinese Lunar calendar.

The Hungry Ghost Festival offers an excellent opportunity to care for the destitute and unfortunate spirits. Hungry ghosts cannot eat or drink; they can only smell smoke. They are appeased by the offering of incense or other items, as well as the chanting of mantras.

The ghosts and spirits, including the deceased ancestors, will come from the lower realm (地獄) to the Northeastern part of the planet. During this month, living descendants will offer incense and fruit (please refrain from eating the fruit after providing it) to the deceased ancestors and burn items made from papier-mâché, such as clothes, “gold bars,” and appliances.

The first day of the Hungry Ghost month will be August 23, 2025. All the gates from the underworld open, and all ghosts flee the afterlife; they will close on September 21, 2025. The gates of hell close once more, causing the spirits to return to the spiritual realm.

We will mostly offer incense to the spirits from September 5 – 11, 2025,  every night or the entire Hungry Ghost month. You can light incense at the front or back of the house after dusk.  Please recite the following mantra while offering incense to the local spirits; it will create good karma for your family since you’re providing food to the homeless souls.

It would be best if you avoided the following activities during Hungry Ghost Month:

• You should not stay out late at night, as the spirits might follow you home.

• You should not take selfies at night. Otherwise, your camera might capture the image of a spirit.

• You should not kill moths; we believe your family and loved ones are reincarnated spirits just dropping by to see you.

• You should not play any spirit games; otherwise, you will attract the spirit to join you.

• You should avoid swimming at night, as evil spirits are said to linger in water and drown people for a rebirth.

• You should not open an umbrella indoors, as an umbrella is believed to be a vehicle for spirits traveling into your home.

• You should not blow a whistle or sing at night. Whistling or singing might attract spirits during this month.

• You should not look back at night; the spirit may tap your shoulder to cover your “protective flame.” Humans have three “protective flames” on our bodies – the left shoulder, the right shoulder, and the forehead.

• You should not sit in the first row of opera performances and movie cinema, as we mostly reserve the first front row for entertaining the spirits. This rule primarily applies to opera in Asia, as opera performances and movies are offered to the spirits, typically starting late in the afternoon and continuing into the night.

• It would be best to refrain from picking up money on the floor at night, as someone might offer money, especially coins, to the spirit.

Recite the mantra while offering incense:

“NAMAH SARVA TATHAGATHA AVALOKITE OM SAMBHARA SAMBHARA HUNG.”