For travellers in Malaysia with a fascination for the supernatural, the Hungry Ghost Festival is a must.

The populous Chinese community in Malaysia annually celebrates the release of ghosts from purgatory, in the belief that in the seventh lunar month, the hungry spirits of their ancestors are freed from hell for one month to scour the Earth for food.

It takes place on the 15th day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar and visitors to Penang will observe the streets littered with small offerings to the wandering ghosts.

The Qio Gor celebration represents the offering of food to the famished souls of one's ancestors, traditionally held to endow the living with good luck.

The ghosts don't only receive edible gifts though ? paper models of televisions, houses or even cars are burnt, so as to be passed over to the spirit world and allow the ghosts to live comfortably in the afterlife.

The article above was found on Google and was published originally on hotelbookers.com