Introduction

The fifteenth of the seventh lunar month celebrates the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts popularly known as Ullambana. In Sanskrit "Ullambana" means "rescuing those who are hanging upside down." This refers to the extreme suffering of the poor souls in the hells who are tormented by hanging upside down due to their wrong deeds. The Ullambana was commemorated especially for releasing those undergoing agony in hell and enabling them to be reborn in heaven. It is believed that on this day, “Doors of Hell” open and dead can meet their loved ones on the earth. On the day of Ullambana, hungry ghosts and spirits are appeased by making offerings which is believed to bring good fortune.

In Chinese this festival is known as Yu Lan Pen. The Chinese, Buddhists monks and Taoist priests chant liturgies, perform rituals, paper money and offer food to the ghosts. The ceremony ends with the throwing of buns, sweets and money.

History/Legend

The Ullambana Festival finds its roots in the Buddhist text. One day Maha Mogallana, one of the Buddha's foremost disciples endowed with strong psychic powers, saw his mother suffering in the realm of hungry ghosts. Using his powers, Maha Mogallana provided a bowl of rice to his mother. However, when the rice reached his mother's hands, it turned into charcoal and could not be consumed. Maha Mogallana felt helpless and so looked for the Buddha's advice. The Lord explained him that due to the wrong deeds of his mother in her previous birth, she didn’t get the food. But Mogallana was persistent to save his mother and so followed Buddha's instructions and made offerings to all monks on the last day of summer retreat so that the monks’ united efforts would reap the desired results. He was very grateful to Buddha and praised the beneficence of the Triple Gem. He motivated people to make offerings to the Buddha and the Sangha on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month to repay the kindness showered on him by the Lord.

Significance

Ullambana is the festival of liberation and advocates in oneself to be good and polite to others. Today also the tradition of the Ullambana Festival lives on. The festival signifies that by doing good deeds and making offerings on such a day we can help rescue our parents from the hell and secure for them rebirth in the heaven. The main message behind this unique festival is following the path of mankind and kindness towards others.

Celebrations

It is supposed that on this day ghosts are permitted to visit the earth for the next fifteen days. So the people make special efforts and arrange a grand feast for the tormented spirits. Ullambana is celebrated by Buddhists all over the world. The Buddhists follow various customs and beliefs, chant several spells and offer prayers to the souls of dead. On this day people also donate food, medicine and clothes for monks and nuns in monasteries.