Summary
- Bukit Mertajam’s Hungry Ghost Festival marks its 140-year tradition in 2026.
- This year’s giant Tai Su Yeah effigy stands 8.9 metres, or about 29.2 feet tall.
- The towering paper effigy of the King of Hades is a major feature of the annual celebration.
- The long-running festival remains one of Bukit Mertajam’s distinctive Chinese cultural traditions.
BUKIT MERTAJAM, August 30 — Bukit Mertajam’s Hungry Ghost Festival marks a 140-year tradition in 2026, continuing a cultural practice that has become closely associated with the town.
This year’s giant Tai Su Yeah, or King of Hades, paper effigy stands 8.9 metres tall, about 29.2 feet. The towering effigy remains a centerpiece of the annual festival.
And is traditionally burned near the end of the celebration. Its height has gradually increased over the years. Reflecting the traditional aspiration of “rising higher each year”.
The 140-year milestone refers to the tradition’s history rather than uninterrupted annual celebrations, as the public event was cancelled in 2020.
