THE Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is continuing to accept permit applications for traditional shows and ‘kotai’ (singing) performances during the Hungry Ghost Festival.
Councillor Tan Soo Siang stated that as of July this year, the council had received 246 applications, with 202 approved so far.
“We are still receiving applications from temples and associations, and there is no set deadline for submissions,” Tan said.
Applications can be submitted through the council’s License Management System (uLesen).
“Most of the rejected applications were due to unsuitable locations or potential traffic obstructions.
“Each application is reviewed by various MBPP departments, and some may take longer to process due to their complexity,” Tan explained when met at City Hall today.
She added that the MBPP received 334 applications last year, and 288 were given permits.
During the month-long festival, beginning on the first day of the seventh month of the Chinese Lunar calendar, the ‘Phor Thor’ committee will hold either Hokkien, Teochew and Cantonese opera and puppet shows, nightly at various locations, especially on streets where temples and marketplaces are nearby.
According to traditional Chinese belief, the traditional shows and ‘kotai’ (singing) performances are to entertain the spirits of the deceased that are allowed to roam the Earth during the seventh month of the Chinese Lunar calendar. The spirits are said to be forced back to hell at the end of the festival.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix courtesy of contributors