You may have heard of the Hungry Ghost Festival, but do you know that this Festival has some of its origins in Buddhism?

Celebrated by Mahayana Buddhists around the world on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, Ullambana, otherwise known as Hungry Ghost Festival or Zhongyuan (中元) Festival in Chinese, is a traditional Buddhist observance rooted in the values of filial piety. Ullambana can be traced to the Ullambana or Yulanpen (盂兰盆) sutra and is based on the story of the Maudgalyayana, one of Buddha’s foremost disciples. 

According to the Ullambana Sutra, after attaining enlightenment, Maudgalyayana used his powers to search for his deceased mother. To his horror, he discovered that she had been reborn into the realm of hungry ghosts, suffering from extreme hunger and thirst due to her past karma of greed and selfishness. 

Distraught, Maudgalyayana offered her food, but it turned to flames before she could eat. He sought the Buddha’s guidance, who instructed him to make offerings to the sangha on the 15th day of the seventh month. Through the sharing of merit by the sangha, Maudgalyayana’s mother was released from her torments and reborn into a better realm.

This act of compassion and filial devotion became the foundation of the Ullambana Festival, and today it continues to be a vital cultural and religious occasion for people to commemorate ancestors and relieve the suffering of departed souls by dedicating merits.Discover these 6 activities happening in Singapore this Ullambana season and take the opportunity to remind ourselves of the importance of gratitude, charity and remembrance! To explore more, you can also visit the Handful of Leaves’ Buddhist Directory or subscribe to our Telegram channel to not miss your favourite events again.

(1) Buddhist Youth Network/ Aranya Sangha Dana Fellowship

Source: Buddhist Youth Network Facebook

In collaboration with Aranya Sangha Dana Fellowship, Buddhist Youth Network invites you to this year’s Singapore Buddhist Youth Day, where we will come together to participate in the Ullambana Festival Sangha Offering in the morning, followed by an outing with the Sangha!

• When? 13 September 2025, 8.30 am – 6.30 pm
• Where? TBA
• Want to find out more? Check out our event listing here.

(2) Poh Ming Tse

Source: Poh Ming Tse

During the upcoming 2025 seventh lunar month, Poh Ming Tse will be conducting a 15-day ceremony to honour Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s birthday. The puja sessions will be led by Venerables, focusing on reciting “The Original Vows of  Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra”

• When? 23 August 2025 – 6 September 2025
• Where? Level 3, Hall of Boundless Light 
• Want to find out more? Check out our event listing here.

(3) Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery 

Source: Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery 

Join Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery for the Ullambana Festival Puja to honour ancestors, liberate beings from suffering, and offer merits across the ten directions!

• When? 6 September 2025, 8.20 am
• Where? Hall of No Form
• Want to find out more? Check out our event listing here. 

(4) Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

Source: Buddha Tooth Relic Temple  

During the Ullambana Festival, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple will organise various activities such as the Liang Emperor’s Repentance, reciting of the Ullambana Sutra, offering of the Ullambana meal as well as the Sangha offering ceremony.

• When? 5 September 2025 – 9 September 2025 
• Where? Buddha Tooth Relic Temple 
• Want to find out more? Check out our event listing here.

(5) The Mahaprajna Buddhist Society

Source: The Mahaprajna Buddhist Society

Join The Mahaprajna Buddhist Society for the Ullambana Puja, as well as the Three Refuges and Five Precepts Ceremony! 

• When? 31 August 2025, 10 am
• Where? The Mahaprajna Buddhist Society 
• Want to find out more? Check out our event listing here.

(6) The Buddhist Library 

Source: The Buddhist Library

No time to make a trip down to attend Ullamabana activities? The Buddhist Library is holding the Ullambana Puja this year via Facebook livestream. Do note however that at the moment, only the Chinese programme is confirmed.

• When? 24 August 2025, 1 pm – 5.15 pm
• Where? Online via Facebook Livestream
• Want to find out more? Check out our event listing here.