1.
MLS RELATIVES IN VEHICLES ARRIVING AT CEMETERY (TWO SHOTS)
18 1/2 ft

2.
MS FAMILY WALKING (PAN) TOMBSTONES
26 ft

3.
MS RELATIVES PERFORMING RELIGIOUS CEREMONY IN FRONT OF TOMB (TWO SHOTS)
35 1/2 ft

4.
MS WOMAN BURNING JOSS MONEY (TWO SHOTS)
43 ft

5.
MS OFFERING OF FOOD
45 1/2 ft

6.
MS MAN REPAINTING NAME OF DECEASED ON SLAB
47 ft

7.
MS MORE PRAYING
50 ft

8.
MS ANOTHER MAN REPAINTING SLAB
54 ft

9.
LS GENERAL SCENE OF CEMETERY
56 ft



Initials CAR/S/MK/YA/RBI



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE MONTH-LONG CHENG BENG FESTIVAL-CHINESE ALL SOULS DAY - IS NAMED AFTER THE FIFTH OF THE TWENTY-FOUR CHINESE SOLAR TERMS, WHICH ARE SEMI-MONTHLY PERIODS OF THE CHINESE POPULAR CALENDAR, CORRESPONDING TO THE DAY ON WHICH THE SUN ENTERS THE FIRST AND FIFTEENTH ZODIACAL SIGNS.

THE CHENG BENG FESTIVAL ALWAYS FALLS ONE HUNDRED AND SIX DAYS AFTER THE WINTER SOLSTICE, ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL IN THE GREGORIAN CALENDAR.

DURING THIS FESTIVAL, CHINESE VISIT THEIR ANCESTORS' TOMBS TO SWEET THE GRAVES AND ITS SURROUNDING AREA, CARRY OUT ANY REPAIRS THAT MAY BE NECESSARY AND THEN PERFORM A RELIGIOUS CEREMONY IN FRONT OF THE TOMB.

TWO RED CANDLES AND THREE INCENSE STICKS ARE PLACED BEFORE THE GRAVE TOGETHER WITH SYMBOLIC OFFERING OF FOOD AND DRINK. SOMETIMES JOSS MONEY AND OTHER PAPER IMAGES, AREA BURNT AT THE GRAVESIDE TO ENSURE THAT THE DECEASED DOEST NOT WANT FOR ANYTHING IN HIS SPIRIT EXISTING IN THE OTHER WORLD.

OFFERINGS ARE ALSO MADE BUT AT THE SAME TIME TO APPEASE THE LOCAL GOD OF THE SOIL, TU SHEN, AN CONSUMED BY THE WORSHIPPERS THEMSELVES. THE CHINESE ARE QUITE PRACTICABLE ABOUT THIS. IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THE UNSEEN SPIRITS HAVE BY THEN HAD SUFFICIENT TIME TO EAT THEIR FILL.

GRAVES THAT HAVE BEEN VISITED IN THIS WAY ARE DECORATED WITH A PAPER BANNER TO INDICATE TO ALL AND SUNDAY THAT THE DECEASED'S DESCENDANTS ARE FILIAL AND HAVE THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO THEIR FORBEARS.