Southern township prepares pole-climbing contest for Ghost Festival

Taipei, Aug. 19 (CNA) Hengchun Township in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan, is preparing for its annual Ghost Festival pole-climbing contest on Aug. 27, with organizers erecting a 21-meter bamboo lantern pole Wednesday in a traditional ritual inviting wandering spirits to join the festivities.

Using an excavator, workers hoisted the 21-meter pole onto the roof of the competition structure -- a raised structure supported by 36 wooden poles for the event.

Hengchun Township chief You Shi-jing (尤史經) led a ceremony seeking blessings for the contest's success, underscoring efforts to preserve the township's cherished folk traditions.

Locally known as Cianggu (搶孤), the contest sees five-member teams form a human pyramid and help a climber scale a 13-meter wooden pole slicked with beef fat to seize a ceremonial flag at the top, with the first team to do so winning a prize of NT$350,000 (US$10,949).

You said the total prize pool for this year's event will reach NT$1.15 million, adding that organizers expect roughly 1,000 visitors to attend.

One of Taiwan's best-known folk traditions, the contest will take place at midnight on Aug. 27 -- the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, Ghost Month -- to mark the Ghost Festival.

During Ghost Month, communities across Taiwan honor wandering spirits with offerings of food and incense, with the main observances taking place on the 15th day.

According to the Pingtung County government, several of the 36 wooden poles are reserved for wandering spirits, with the 21-meter bamboo pole symbolizing an invitation for the "good brothers" -- a local euphemism for ghosts -- to join the Ghost Festival celebrations.