SIBU: Revellers celebrating the Hungry Ghost Festival here have been urged to scale down the burning of prayer materials due to the current dry spell.
This year, the burning of prayer materials, including joss sticks and paper money, will begin at 11.30pm on Aug 26.
Ghost Month this year runs from Aug 13 to Sept 10, with the main Hungry Ghost Festival falling on Aug 27, the 15th day of the seventh lunar month.
With haze still affecting the area, the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) has advised the public to minimise the burning of prayer materials.
“Due to the current dry spell, we want to advise temple groups and individuals to minimise burning activities. According to the belief, the bigger the burning, the better it is for the festival. But we want the burning activity to be scaled down this time,” said councillor Simon Wee during a dialogue with temple groups today.
The dialogue was held to seek the cooperation of revellers in refraining from excessive burning during the festival period.
Wee who is the General Purpose and Community Services deputy chairman said the council had placed large burning bins at several locations for the disposal of prayer items
The locations include the Jalan Pahlawan-Jalan Dr Wong Sook Kai traffic garden, Jalan Lada-Jalan Taza roundabout, Jalan Wawasan traffic garden and Bukit Lima roundabout.
“At these places, please avoid burning near the council’s flower plants,” he urged.
Meanwhile, Zone 4 Fire and Rescue Department chief Andy Alie said the department would be on its highest alert during the final two days of the festival, on Aug 26 and 27.
“We will especially focus our attention on these places where burning activities will take place,” he said.
