Headed to the west of the island on Thursday (25 August, the 28th day of the 7th Lunar Month) to visit the 7th Lunar Month festival organised by the Jurong East Society of Peace (Yu Lang Dong Ping An She / 裕廊东平安社). They occupied a huge tent over a hard court next to Block 252 Jurong East Street 24.
Chatted with the head organiser Mr Lim. He and some friends living in the Jurong East area had banded together and formed a society to commemorate the 7th Lunar Month. Their first festival was in 1993 and they’ve been going strong ever since. They even made their own orange polo Ts.
I was intrigued by the layout of the festival space - the main altar in the middle, flanked by King Yama’s Palace (Sen Luo Dian / 森罗殿) on the left and the King of Ghosts, Da Shi Ye (大士爷), on the right. “Everyone does it differently,” Mr Lim said.
A lot was going on. Taoist priests conducting prayers, a traditional opera performance for the spirits. It was a feast for the senses.
