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Taiwan - Ghost Month - Gate of hell opening ceremony

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Lao Da Gong Temple, Keelung city during Ghost Month's 'gate of hell' opening ceremony.

Legend has it that anyone who passes away free of sins may enjoy reincarnation somewhen, whilst those with the bad deeds will probably suffer a ghostly afterlife. Some outraged spirits yearn for revenge and could seize any opportunity to disturb the living, causing their death in disasters or accidents.

Although the ’gates of hell’ refer only symbolically to the doors which separate the realm of the dead and the living, around midnight Keelung's finest bureaucrats and Taoist priests gather for the Kanmen ceremony at the Lao Da Gong Temple to unlock the multidimensional gateway. The heavily attended event also attracts hearty and sustained prayers from those who fear what was leashed for eleven months. On the other hand, it appears to me that all the pseud-photographers and TV crews yet betray the taboos within the very first seconds of Ghost Month, as filming or taking pictures at night might get you something captured that you didn't intend to have. Well, if this was true, all the spirits streaming out of that tiny door right now, would just have found a new home. The night closes in with playful dances of manned dragons, de facto the icon of Chinese culture, which supposed to bring good luck to people – Luck, which will be very likely needed in the upcoming few weeks when the ghosts enjoy temporary release and roam freely in search of food, spiritual cash, entertainment, and possibly some souls.

Filename
Taiwan-Keelung-7.jpg
Copyright
Claudio Sieber
Image Size
6016x4016 / 20.6MB
Contained in galleries
Taiwan - Keelung - Gate of Hell Opening Ceremony
Lao Da Gong Temple, Keelung city during Ghost Month's 'gate of hell' opening ceremony.<br /> <br /> Legend has it that anyone who passes away free of sins may enjoy reincarnation somewhen, whilst those with the bad deeds will probably suffer a ghostly afterlife. Some outraged spirits yearn for revenge and could seize any opportunity to disturb the living, causing their death in disasters or accidents. <br /> <br /> Although the ’gates of hell’ refer only symbolically to the doors which separate the realm of the dead and the living, around midnight Keelung's finest bureaucrats and Taoist priests gather for the Kanmen ceremony at the Lao Da Gong Temple to unlock the multidimensional gateway. The heavily attended event also attracts hearty and sustained prayers from those who fear what was leashed for eleven months. On the other hand, it appears to me that all the pseud-photographers and TV crews yet betray the taboos within the very first seconds of Ghost Month, as filming or taking pictures at night might get you something captured that you didn't intend to have. Well, if this was true, all the spirits streaming out of that tiny door right now, would just have found a new home. The night closes in with playful dances of manned dragons, de facto the icon of Chinese culture, which supposed to bring good luck to people – Luck, which will be very likely needed in the upcoming few weeks when the ghosts enjoy temporary release and roam freely in search of food, spiritual cash, entertainment, and possibly some souls.