Just a mention of Chinese Opera and Ko-Tai (an energetic singing and dancing show by lady singers with glittering costumes), one will automatically associate such activities with the annual Hungry Ghost Festival celebrations, which falls on the 7 month of the Chinese lunar calendar. In the western calendar, for this year 2010, that would be in between August and September. Apparently that’s just a month away from now, with exact dates from 10th August to 07th September.

Hungry Ghost Festival is considered as the eastern version of the American’s Halloween. Mostly celebrated by the Taoist community, it is believed that during this particular month, the gates of Hell will be opened and all the deceased spirits are released and allowed to roam about in our living world for exactly a month before they are summoned back to Hell again.

Therefore, as to appease these roaming spirits in our world and to prevent them from disturbing and cause harm or mischief to the livings, the locals from the Taoism community would make elaborated food offerings to them. Besides the food offerings, entertainments are also being staged with the distinctive belief that the shows will entertain and keep the wandering spirits appeased.

Thus, this is where the Chinese Operas and Ko-Tai shows are very much in demand during this month long celebrations. Penang is one of the few states that pre-dominantly celebrate this occasion on a bigger scale basis, be it on island or at mainland. You can easily spot Chinese Operas, as well as the Ko-Tai shows staged aplenty near roadsides and around the outdoor neighbourhood areas. Temporary wooden or steel stages are erected for this purpose and the shows are usually performed from a minimum of a few days to a week or more and are usually held at night.