A video of a frenzied scene at a Chinese temple in Indonesia has been making the rounds of social media platforms, depicting a crowd of people scrambling to get the food items offered to them. It happens when the annual Hungry Ghost Festival is held, which is where the traditional prayer day is held to celebrate the spirits gone. After the religious ceremony, the gates were let open, and the community members were allowed to pick up the other items that remained on the big display tables.
Once entry was allowed, great crowds converged upon the tables stocked with packaged snacks, bottled drinks, fresh fruit and cooked dishes. In seconds, dozens of people sprang into action at once, climbing over each other to grab as many as they could. Some guests had large plastic bags and woven bags to fill with items, and others climbed up on structures around them to access tables deeper into the courtyard.
Understanding the Tradition of Sembayang Rebut
The scene is dramatic and is a tradition that has been practised in the area since time immemorial, called Sembayang Rebut, meaning the “grabbing prayer” ritual. The practice is based on the Chinese-Indonesian culture because in it people believe that food presented at religious ceremonies brings blessing. After rituals, offerings are supposed to be distributed widely amongst the community and not thrown away.
In some Indonesian Chinese communities, the practice of letting people “take” the food is considered spreading good luck and unity among people throughout the village. Temple organisers intentionally open the doors to all and invite both Chinese Indonesians as well as the surrounding community to attend. The chaotic nature of the grab is actually thought to be a traditional and festive part of the ceremony and not really an indication of disorder.
Diverse Practices Across Regional Temples
Although the style of Sembayang Rebut is free-for-all and energetic, not all temples celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival as it is done here. The ways in which the distribution occurs differ greatly according to regional customs, the size of the crowds and the safety preferences of the local temple committees.
However, some temples opt for a more organised approach, issuing numbered queue tickets or pre-packaged care packages to each person to ensure an even distribution without hassle. Others still are implementing the open grab method, which is a tradition dating back generations. Although many people were seen in the viral video, temple volunteers ensured the event was safe and fun.
See the video here:
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