Singapore, 23 Aug 2022 – The 7th Lunar Month has always been riddled with a sense of mystery, superstition, and misunderstanding. During the course of the month, from 16 August to 14 September this year, Taoists commemorate it as the Hungry Ghost Festival (Zhong Yuan Jie), while Buddhists commemorate it as the Ullambana Festival (Yu Lan Jie) – events filled with rituals, traditions, and practices going back thousands of years. 

Singapore, 10 October 2022 – Haw Par Villa reopened in July 2021 and has been receiving significant growth in its visitorship, particularly after the opening of Hell’s Museum in Oct 2021. By and large, our visitors have been very well-behaved and we do not have any major incidents to report, even when we have large-scale events such as music festivals.

Unfortunately, we had a few incidents with visitors sitting on sculptures despite the numerous signs requesting that visitors do not do so. This is both to preserve the sculptural works of art, as well as for their own safety.

Our staff intervene regularly and firmly to prevent such negative behaviour and visitors normally comply without causing further problems.

The management of Haw Par Villa is disappointed at the behaviour of the visitor who goes by the TikTok username “anniexu403”. Her actions are irresponsible as they not only endanger herself but will also damage the art works. Furthermore, the works reflect Asian cultural values and ethical behaviour which sadly were not displayed by the visitor.

While we appreciate comments on the TikTok video asking for the visitor to respect the works of art, comments on the visitor’s nationality are inappropriate and unnecessary. As Singaporeans, we welcome all nationalities and communities to visit Haw Par Villa and we strive to create a common space for all to enjoy the beautiful works of art on display.

Singapore, 29 June 2022 – Mr Jeya Ayadurai – local historian and heritage entrepreneur – is now on an exclusive list populated by only a handful of his countrymen: the prestigious Honorary Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE). 

Singapore, 29 July 2022 –The management of Haw Par Villa, Journeys Pte Ltd, is curating a series of events to commemorate the 7th Lunar Month, from 12 to 26 August 2022.

This will be the first Spirits Festival held in the 85-year-old iconic Asian park celebrating the traditional festivals of Singapore, aptly incorporating its newly-built Hell’s Museum, and the park’s infamous 10 Courts of Hell.

The 7th Lunar Month has always been riddled with mystery, rituals, and a perceived sense of superstition. Officially, the 15th day – 12 August this year – is commemorated by the Taoists as the Hungry Ghost Festival (Zhong Yuan Jie), and by the Buddhists as the Ullambana Festival (Yu Lan Jie). However, in Singapore and Malaysia, these festivals may be observed throughout the entire 7th Lunar Month. But today, the festival has seen a reduction in scale and  grandeur from yesteryears. The sun seems to be setting on this once widely celebrated ghost month in Singapore, and many related industries are also seeing their decline. 

The Spirits Festival will commemorate both the Taoist Hungry Ghost Festival and the Buddhist Ullambana Festival in a series of events and an exhibition that will run till end of this year. It will focus on unity in diversity, showing similarities in beliefs and practices amongst the different schools of thought across East Asia. Events organised by Journeys Pte Ltd (JPL) and its associate firm, Singapore History Consultants (SHC), will both entertain and educate visitors on the festivals and the related practices they frequently see but might not understand.

JPL seeks to establish the Spirits Festival as one of the key events on Haw Par Villa’s calendar, in recognition of the significant number of Buddhist and Taoist sculptures and dioramas in the park. After two years of the pandemic, as large gatherings and international travel resume, Journeys also hopes to attract more visitors to Haw Par Villa as a community space for programmes and events.

In terms of key festivals, JPL will focus on the Lunar New Year (January / February), the Solar New Year (April), Labour Day (1 May), Vesak Day (May), and the 7th Lunar Month (July to September). In addition, JPL’s approach is to invite all communities to the park to celebrate each other’s festivals, focus on common links, and create a common space for all communities, big or small, in Singapore.

Events to anticipate for the Spirits Festival 2022

JPL/SHC is collaborating with many partners for the festival. This includes businesses such as Yeo Swee Huat Paper Agency, religious organisations like the Tibetan Buddhist Centre, and subject experts Master Chung Kwang Tung and Venerable You Shi Guang, to make this experience possible.

1. Exhibition: End of an Era – The Legacy of a Vanishing Trade: Yeo Swee Huat Paper Agency (12 Aug – 31 Dec 2022)

2. Tibetan 7th Lunar Month Sur Prayer (18 August 2022, 5.30pm – 6.15pm)

3. RoAM Talk Series: Panel Discussion – Demystifying the 7th Lunar Month in Singapore (18 August 2022, 6.30pm -7.45pm)

4. 7th Lunar Month Taoist-Buddhist Unity Prayers (20 August 2022, 9.00AM – 11AM)

5. Launch of Self-Guided Taoist Trail on Haw Par Villa’s website

There will be a media preview of the End of an Era exhibition on 12 August 2022, at 4.30pm – 6pm. It will also be attended by Mrs Yeo Siew Peng and Mr Yeo Hung Teo, the owners of Yeo Swee Huat Paper Agency.

For more information, see the annexes for more information

Annex A – More information about each individual event

Annex B – About Journeys Pte Ltd and Haw Par Villa

The activities will take place mainly at the Culture Courtyard. Please refer to this map for directions to the Courtyard in Haw Par Villa: https://www.hawparvilla.sg/plan-your-visit/#park_map

It is Item B under “Key Locations”.

Singapore, 27 October 2021 – Haw Par Villa, Singapore’s longest-running cultural theme park, is set to officially relaunch on Thursday, 28 October 2021, with the opening of Hell’s Museum, the only attraction in the world dedicated to death and the afterlife. The Museum will be open to the public from Friday, 29 October 2021. The opening weekend, 29 – 31 October, will be packed with a series of events and activities, ranging from Chinese ink-painting workshops and yoga under the stars, to guided park tours and Halloween-themed picnics.

Journeys, an award-winning, Singapore-based heritage specialist is focused on reimagining much-loved historical sites, such as Changi Museum and Battlebox, and is the current management team at Haw Par Villa. “We aim to revitalise this 84-year-old attraction in a three phased programme, starting with the introduction of the world’s first Hell’s Museum,” says Jeya Ayadurai, Chairman of Journeys Pte Ltd. “Our goal is for Haw Par Villa to be reinvigorated as the heritage gem it truly is, by incorporating new, compelling content to complement the folklore and philosophy behind the Park’s array of over 1,000 statues and 150 dioramas. In doing so, we hope to spark in local and international visitors a keener sense of curiosity and an exploration of Asian art, culture, literature, and religion. The result is a richer appreciation of what our communities share in common.” 

Hell’s Museum provides unique comparative insights on how death and the afterlife are viewed and interpreted across religions, cultures, and the ages. The immersive exhibition features specially commissioned videos and multi-media elements that will offer visitors a better understanding of the commonalities across the world’s major belief systems – and how different communities around the world, as well as in Singapore, draw meaning from death and dying. Stretching over 3,800 sqm Hell’s Museum also serves as a prelude to Haw Par Villa’s world-renowned Ten Courts of Hell, based on Taoist and Buddhist teachings of punishments in the afterlife.

“Not many know that Tiger Balm mogul – Aw Boon Haw – built the park as a tribute to his brother, Aw Boon Par,” Ayadurai explains. “After Boon Par’s sudden passing in 1944, Boon Haw wanted to commemorate his brother’s life and developed some of the best-known dioramas during the post-war years – including the famed Ten Courts of Hell. 

“Most importantly, Boon Haw wanted visitors to contemplate how they should live their lives meaningfully. We’ve developed Hell’s Museum to commemorate the brotherly love – and as a continuation of this celebration of life and heritage, focusing on what we share as a community rather than what differentiates us.” 

Hell’s Museum will be open to the public daily from 29 October 2021, with tickets priced at SGD18 for adults (13 years and above) and SGD10 for children (7 – 12 years only). Due to the subject matter, children under the age of 9 years old are not encouraged to visit the Museum. For the opening weekend of 29 – 31 October, which coincides with Halloween, the Museum will be open at the following times. Hell’s Museum will also offer a special limited-edition souvenir to all who visit the museum dressed in Halloween costume.

Highlights of the programme for the opening weekend, 29 – 31 October, include: 

• Park Tours by Haw Par Villa Park Ambassadors
• Chinese Ink Painting classes & Tea Appreciation
• Wu Tao Dance
• Hypnotherapy Talk & Workshop
• Breathwork & Yoga under the Stars
• Halloween themed picnic sets by Glamping Society

As part of the reimagining of Haw Par Villa, Journeys will also offer a line-up of exciting activities that will be rolled out in the next few months.