TRANSFERRING OF MERITS TO HUNGRY GHOSTS (PETAS)
Chinese Seventh Lunar Month

The practice of transferring merits to departed ones originated from the time of the Buddha. The first person to hold such a ceremony was king Bimbisara. He was instructed to offer dana to the Maha Sangha and transfer the merits to hungry ghosts who had been his relative in his previous lives. After having received the merits, the hungry ghosts were relieved of sufferings.

The concept of hungry ghosts and the practice of transferring of merits to the dead were readily accepted by the Chinese when they came to know the Buddha Dhamma because these were similar to their belief in ancestor worship related to filial piety.

On that day, the temple management committee will make the necessary arrangement. The resident monks will lead the ceremony of transferring of merits to the departed ones.