Teng Chieh (Buddhist Festival)

Teng Chieh, also known as the Ghost Festival, is a traditional Buddhist and Taoist observance primarily celebrated in East Asia. Held on the 15th night of the seventh lunar month, it honors deceased ancestors and wandering spirits. Families offer food, burn incense, and release paper offerings to ensure ancestors' spirits are honored and can find peace. The festival also includes rituals to appease wandering ghosts, fostering filial piety and spiritual harmony. It reflects a cultural respect for ancestors and the belief that paying tribute benefits both the living and the spirits.