Full moon of the seventh lunar month according to the Chinese lunar calendar (Mid to late August).
Hungry Ghosts Roam the Earth
Chinese communities in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival. During the seventh lunar month of the Chinese calendar, it is believed that the gates of hell are opened and the spirits of hungry ghosts allowed to roam the earth. These ghosts need food and merit. People can help by offering food, paper money, candles and flowers, making merit of their own in the process.
Mahayana Buddhist Observants
On a national scale, this is a lesser holiday. Most of the Chinese who observe the Hungry Ghost Festival are Mahayana Buddhists. The main celebrations are observed around major Chinese shrines in Thailand.