Preparations for next yearThe Ghost Festival is a huge event, and devotees take the task of preparing for it very seriously.
Head Committee for 2008, Lim Leong Onn, 45, said that a committee is formed every year just for the festival to decide on event mechanics such as programme, decorations and donations.
The head is not nominated through votes but by a ritual that seeks permission from the gods. Each person who wants to try for the post will be given two shen bei, wooden half-moons with two surfaces.
The shen bei are thrown to determine the next head. One open and one close shen bei denotes “yes”, two open shen bei means “go again”, and two close shen bei means “you are out”.
The person who has the most number of one open and one close shen bei will be the next head for 2009’s festival.
The person is said to be fated to take up the task. As it turns out, Lim’s wife, Kuan Lai Chee, managed to get the most number of desired throws, meaning she will take over as the head for next year’s celebrations.
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