Hungry Ghost Festival (Por Tor)

The Annual Hungry Ghost Festival 2024

The Por Tor Festival, or the Hungry Ghost Festival, is a vibrant and significant event for Phuket’s Hokkien Chinese community. It lasts a month and honours the dead. Held in August or September, it is believed that the gates of hell open during this time, allowing hungry ghosts to return to the living world.

Families prepare traditional feasts at home, offering food and drink to their departed relatives. The central celebrations occur at the Por Tor Gong shrine in Phuket Town, which is dedicated to the Por Tor god, or king of hell. The shrine, adorned with intricate artwork depicting sins and punishments, plays a key role in the festival.

A unique feature of the festival is the offering of red turtle-shaped cakes, known as “ang ku,” symbolizing good luck, longevity, and wisdom. These cakes and other traditional foods like roasted ducks and fresh produce are presented at Chinese shrines. The Por Tor Festival provides a fascinating glimpse into Phuket’s rich local Hokkien culture and is a colourful, family-friendly celebration highlighting the island’s unique traditions. The main area to see the red turtles in the making is Sheng Tek Beo Shrine, Bang Niew area of Phuket Town.

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Blossoming in Overseas Territories: The Legacy of Chinese Immigrants in Phuket

During the late Qing Dynasty, many Chinese people travelled overseas in search of opportunities. Tin ore in Phuket attracted various Chinese groups, particularly the Hokkien Chinese. One of the significant traditions they brought with them is “Sart Chin” or “Pho Tor,” which has become an important part of the cultural fabric in Phuket. This tradition, deeply adhered to by the Phuket Chinese community, mirrors the practices of overseas Chinese in other regions. “Sart Chin” is a time to remember and express gratitude to ancestors and fellow Chinese who ventured overseas but passed away far from their homeland. This tradition holds special importance for those who died without descendants to perform merit-making and dedicate merit to their spirits.

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More Photos of the Hungry Ghost Festival

Por Tor Schedule