Throughout the entire 7th lunar month or the Ghost Month, the Taoists would pray to the “hungry ghosts” who are believed to be starved spirits of those who have either died unfairly, have not been given a proper burial or those who are neglected by their living relatives.
To alleviate the suffering of these restless spirits and help them along in the afterlife, Buddhist and Taoist believers would pray and perform various rituals, with the most elaborate one culminating on the fifteenth day when the realm of Heaven, Hell and the living opens in unison. There are also many Taoists who would pray by roadsides and crossroads and leave food offerings for other hungry ghosts as a gesture of compassion and to prevent them from intruding their homes.
In the above picture, you can see what is left of the offerings for the hungry ghosts. One must remember to not step or kick the offerings left on the roadside as this may incur the wrath of a hungry ghost.
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