Free dance show in Singapore during the seventh lunar month, performance for the dead

In the seventh month of the lunar calendar, there are many free singing and dancing shows in Singapore, which are called getai. The seventh month of the lunar calendar is the Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as the "Ghost Festival". In this month, the dead souls (commonly known as "good brothers") will return to the human world. In order to avoid bad luck, people need to take special care of these ghosts. During the Hungry Ghost Festival, various ceremonies and offerings are held in the Nanyang area to "worship" these lonely ghosts, and entertainment programs are arranged at the same time, among which the getai is an important project. If you pay attention to the getai performance scene, you will find that the first row of seats is usually empty because these seats are reserved for the "good brothers".

The getai performance usually starts at 7:30 pm and ends after 10 pm. The stage is usually temporarily built and set in an open grassland, parking lot or residential area. The stage design is colorful and bright, and the sound of the band resounds through the sky. The performers have strong singing skills, and the costumes are as exaggerated as possible. Decorative elements such as sequins and feathers are often used, and the colors are bright to leave a deep impression on the audience. The styles of the hosts of Getai are varied, most of them interact with the audience in a vulgar and humorous way, and often switch between Mandarin, local dialects, English, and even Indian languages. In Singapore, young people may find Getai a bit tacky, but the elderly are happy to follow the performance.