5 unique festivals worldwide honouring the dead – does India celebrate one too?

As Halloween approaches, and with it comes the tradition of costumes and trick-or-treating, many must not be quite aware that the holiday’s roots are believed to lie in Samhain, an ancient Gaelic festival. This festival is meant to honour the spirits of the dead. Well, apart from Halloween, this very idea of honouring and celebrating the departed soul extends far beyond, and is celebrated across cultures and countries. Certain cultures and countries have their own unique festivals to celebrate it. From solemn rituals to joyous celebrations, here are five festivals that offer us a glimpse of the diverse ways people honour their ancestors.

Buddhists and Taoists in China, Malaysia, and Singapore honour their ancestors during the Hungry Ghost Festival, held on the 15th day of the Hungry Ghost month (typically in July or August). People perform rituals to feed and appease the spirits, including burning joss paper offerings like fake banknotes, cars, and homes. Lanterns float on water to guide the spirits back, while empty seats at family meals are reserved for the deceased.

Chuseok, often referred to as ‘Korean Thanksgiving,’ is a time to express gratitude to ancestors for ensuring a bountiful harvest. Held in September or October, Koreans visit ancestral graves, clean them, and offer traditional foods like songpyeon (rice cakes). The festival also features folk games, dances, and rituals that bring families together to honour the dead.

Pchum Ben, one of Cambodia’s most important festivals, lasts for 15 days, during which the living offer food to the spirits of their ancestors. Believed to be the time when the gates of hell open, the festival involves feeding monks and making rice ball offerings to ensure the souls find peace. The final day of the festival sees the release of small boats filled with fruits and incense to accompany the spirits on their return.

In India, Pitru Paksha is a 15-day period dedicated to honouring ancestors through rituals like Shraddha or Tarpana. Families offer food to Brahmins, the poor, and even animals like cows and crows. Celebrated in September or October, Pitru Paksha is a solemn period of reflection where people refrain from joyous activities to focus on prayers for the peace of their ancestors’ souls.

In Mexico, Día de Los Muertos is a vibrant and festive celebration of life and death. Families build ofrendas (altars) in memory of loved ones, decorated with marigolds, photos, and favourite foods. The festival is marked by lively parades, colourful costumes, and humorous Calaveras poems, blending joy and remembrance in a beautiful way.