by @qiinn_1217 & @0xaphi

What Is the Hungry Ghost Festival?

The Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as Zhong Yuan Jie (中元节), falls on the 15th day of the 7th month in the lunar calendar. It’s believed that during this month — known as Ghost Month — the gates of the afterlife open, allowing spirits to roam freely in the human world.

While it might sound spooky at first, this festival isn’t about horror or fear. At its heart, it’s about respect, remembrance, and taking care of those who came before us — including those who may no longer have anyone to remember them.

Why Is It Observed in Malaysia?

In Malaysia, where there’s a strong Chinese cultural presence, the Hungry Ghost Festival is still widely practiced across generations. You’ll see roadside altars, public prayer ceremonies, and stage performances (getai) dedicated to entertaining both the living and the dead.

The month is treated with spiritual caution, but also with reverence. It’s a time when communities come together to honor ancestors, feed the forgotten, and ensure peace between the seen and unseen worlds.

Key Customs and Offerings

One of the most recognisable practices is burning joss paper — symbolic money and items like clothes or houses, meant for spirits to use in the afterlife. Food offerings are also prepared and left out for wandering souls.

Some families prepare entire meals and set a place at the table for the spirits. Public ceremonies are often held in temples, while some communities organize large-scale offerings for the homeless spirits — those without descendants to care for them.

Another common sight is the getai — live performances with loud music, dancing, and comedy. The first row of seats is always left empty, reserved for the spirits.

What Should You Avoid During Ghost Month?

There are many taboos associated with Ghost Month, based on the belief that the spirit world is more active and unpredictable. These include:

• Avoid staying out late at night (especially near water or forests)

• Don’t whistle, sing, or call someone’s name after dark

• Skip late-night swims — water is believed to attract spirits

• Don’t touch or kick offerings on the street

• Don’t hang clothes outside overnight

• Refrain from moving house or starting big projects during this period

Whether or not you believe in these taboos, following them is often seen as a sign of cultural respect — especially for older generations who take them seriously.

The Meaning Behind the Rituals

Beneath the surface, the Hungry Ghost Festival is about more than avoiding bad luck. It reflects deeply rooted values: filial piety, generosity, gratitude, and humility.

Even offerings to anonymous spirits show a willingness to care for others — even those we’ve never met. It’s a reminder that respect doesn’t stop at life’s edge. And that the living have a role in remembering, honoring, and making peace with the past.

What It Means for the Younger Generation

For young Malaysians today, the Hungry Ghost Festival may feel like something distant, or even “superstitious.” But beneath the rituals is a reminder that we’re part of a longer story — one that goes beyond us.

You don’t have to follow every taboo or tradition to appreciate the meaning behind them. At the core, this month is about compassion: for our ancestors, our culture, and the unseen threads that connect us all.

And in a world that often moves too fast, pausing to remember and respect — even for just one month — might be more powerful than it seems.

We’re serious. Touch. Some. Grass. Literally! You have just spent weeks of your life staring at your laptop screens, under the harsh university lights. It’s time to get out, and get in touch with nature. Take a walk, a hike, have a picnic with your friends—changing your scenery is a chance to change your perspective, your mindset. 

The chattering of birds under the gentle sun is the best background to take a breath and reflect. Think about the future. Your goals, your dreams, what you want to do with your life. Or, decide to just be. Living in the present, taking a step forward everyday, no matter how heavy. Whatever you choose, we support you! So get out there and reconnect with your true nature!

Wait! Before you scroll away at the thought of labour, just hear us out! Yes, we know the thought of work can be intimidating and honestly, defeats the point of having a break. But, we don’t have forever. We’ve had our heads in books all of our lives, without a chance to explore the working world. Now is the time to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to something new. It could be an internship or job within your chosen field or study—you’ll get to experience first-hand what your future job might look like and gain irreplaceable knowledge from senior mentors in your field. Alternatively, you could do a job completely unrelated to your field. This is the chance to expand your horizons, maybe even find the field where you truly feel at home. 

“But Etc. Magazine, I still want to hang out with friends and have some days to just chill!” 

We hear you, dear reader! And we get it. Diving into a job without wanting to commit to it is definitely not the way to go. Instead, you could try volunteering with NGOs for just a few hours a week or attend networking events for only a day. You can still step out of your comfort zone without drowning in the deep end—especially if you aren’t mentally prepared for it yet!  You don’t have to feel pressured to do things a certain way just because your peers are immersing themselves in work. We are all different, and what works for someone else might not work for you. That is 100% okay. Our advice? go where your heart desires. It doesn’t matter how much progress you’ve made on the career ladder, what matters is the journey you take and the experience you gain. You’ve got it!

“Huh…? Why are you getting so philosophical, Etc. Magazine?”

Relax, it’s not that deep. Really. Discovering yourself isn’t just contemplating intensely about our existence and putting yourself in an existential crisis. Sure, that’s definitely part of it too but at the same time, it can be much simpler. Discovering yourself can be as simple as what you like to eat, where you like to go. Ask yourself the W-H questions. Who, Where, When, What, Why, How. This is the key to knowing yourself. With this method, you can find out the types of hobbies you want to try out, why you want to try them out and so on. Not only will it help you find your inner footing, it’ll also help you save some money by not buying items for every viral trend online. So, ask yourself the W-H questions and try out something new or old that you actually care about. The point isn’t about trying out everything willy nilly. It’s about making purposeful choices to help you find what you’re passionate about a little bit easier than it would have been before. 

Whether you spend your days touching grass, doing a little labour, or discovering yourself, remember that you’re not alone in figuring things out. Your break doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be yours. The world is your oyster, so get out there, breathe, grow, and have some fun. We’re rooting for you!

Merdeka is celebrated by Malaysians on 31st August every year. It calls to mind the birth of our brand new nation all the way back in 1957, as Tunku Abdul Rahman declared Malaya (now Malaysia) an independent, free nation with the now iconic chants of ‘Merdeka!’ This year marks the 68th anniversary of our country. So, to celebrate, here are some of the ways to celebrate this special day in our history!

Every year, the Merdeka Parade is usually held at the Independence Square located in Kuala Lumpur to commemorate the independence of Malaysia. This is the very same location that the first parade was held all the way back in 1957! The celebration includes marches by the police and the Malaysian Armed Forces, a performance of Negaraku, the national anthem, by the military band, raising of the flag and recitation of the Rukun Negara, and of course, patriotic performances demonstrating the culture of Malaysia through song and dance. The Merdeka Parade is significant as it pays tribute to the sacrifices of historical leaders in order to achieve independence, making it a must-see during Merdeka!

Patriotic songs are often sung in schools as part of Merdeka celebrations. Chances are, you’ve experienced the unforgettable feeling of singing along with all your friends and classmates while waving the Jalur Gemilang together! Classics such as Jalur Gemilang, Keranamu Malaysia and of course, Setia are some of the most iconic songs that are a must to celebrate our independence. Tanggal 31, covered by Sudirman (pictured above) and originally written by Ahmad C. B., remains one of the most beloved patriotic songs to this date. Grab your friends and family, blast some patriotic music and sing along together for a fun celebration!

 

Photo by The Star

Evidence #01: Historical Clawprints

Now, before anyone accuses me of overreacting and spiralling, let’s rewind. Cats didn’t just show up one day with a masterplan to conquer us (I believe). They had been catwalking through history (purr!). In ancient Egypt, they were not just pets: they were literal icons. Deities. They graced temple walls, mummified like royalties, and probably walked around with an attitude that said, “I am the moment.” In Japanese folklore, they were symbols of luck and fortune. But in Europe? Totally different vibe. Black cats were feared, seen as bad luck, accused of being witches’ companions, and even burned alongside women during the witch hunts. A tragic twist in their PR journey. Yet even in fear, they held power. Whether good or bad, cats were never background characters in history —they were plot devices. So while humans were out there inventing bulbs and the wheel, cats were quietly building their empire. They purred, blinked slowly, and let us do the worshipping. Their comeback arc? Masterpiece. Victorian-era portraits began featuring women and their beloved feline companions, soft and mysterious, like gothic storybook characters with purring sidekicks. From bad omens to being the soft, majestic rulers of our living rooms, they didn’t need revenge, just fluff. Lots of fluff.

Evidence #02: The Cat-ification

So, let’s talk about evolution. One minute, we were taking normal selfies. The next? Snapchat cat filters. Just a black line doodle of ears and whiskers, very innocent. Don’t be fooled. This was a coordinated campaign! One blink and suddenly, we all had sparkly whiskers and kitten noses on our faces. Cute? Absolutely. Voluntary? Doubtful. Then came the headbands, yes… those cat-eared ones. From hot pink to pastel pink, we wore them like crowns. Somewhere in between, our beds started having cat plushies. Keychains jingled with feline faces and colourful bells. Stickers invaded our messengers, notebooks and journals. Even stationeries got infected with paw prints! And don’t get me started with cafes and their menus. Then, memes exploded. Grumpy Cat walked so other memes could run. Keyboard Cat? Icon. Nyan Cat? Legend. But hold up. The real secret agents behind this silent capitalism? Animation cats. Hello Kitty, the silent ambassador of cuteness, has been silently working since 1974. Puss in Boots? Elite distraction. Garfield? Psychological warfare via sarcasm. Tom from Tom & Jerry? Veteran of slapstick diplomacy. They infiltrated cartoons, comics, plush toys, and our childhoods, embedding emotional weakness. We grew up loving them. We trusted them. Big mistake. Was it branding? Was it brainwashing? We don’t know. All we know is… we let it happen. We surrendered. We hashtagged. We reposted. We absolutely loved it. We still do.

Evidence #03: Silent captivation

So, why did we let this happen? Or maybe let me rewire the question. Did we ever stand a chance to resist? With that tiny head tilt and a blink so slow that captivated us? See, cats didn’t claw their way through brute force. No, it’s just feline finesse. Quiet. Elegant. Full of attitude. And somehow, we opened our wallets wide and said, “Yes. Take my money. Rule us, Your Meowjesty.” There was no grand conspiracy or secret agency behind it. Just a hundred thousand pixels, sleepy poses, belly showing poses, and animated chaos served with sparkly stickers. Suddenly, we weren’t just buying into it. We were emotionally investing into it. We started calling them our emotional support animals. Our mood mascots. And when brands saw the heart eyes, they pounced. Marketing didn’t have to try hard. All they needed was a wink from Pusheen, and boom—sold out. Again. We’re not being forced. We want to be part of this fluffy, paw-printed movement. We like feeling comforted by a sticker on our laptop. We giggle when our drink is named after a meow. It’s not just aesthetics. It’s affection. This isn’t mindless consumerism. It’s mindful indulgence and deep down, we all know, we were never the ones in control.

Conclusion: Case Closed

In conclusion, what began as a trip to the bookstore turned into a full-blown investigation. Everywhere I turned, cats. Comic books, pins, pens, socks, drinks, filters, keychains… Cats! Cats! Cats! It made me wonder, is it capitalism or colonialism? A trend or a takeover? Maybe both. Maybe neither. Maybe it's something way simpler. Just the most soft form of surrender, that’s what I would like to call it. So, my final report is: we are gladly and whole-heartedly being taken over. No resistance. Gentle meows, followed by a collective squeal of “aww”. Why? Because cats are CUTE and we LOVE cats. That’s it. That’s the answer. No psychological theory. No economic breakdown. Just the most basic truth we all quietly accept. Cats are adorable, and we are weak. 

Disclaimer: This is a fun, unserious article. No real political theory, just paws and chaos.

by @charlottelkaix

In this life, we encounter people we like and people we don’t. Some have a way of seeing the world just as we do, while others have perspectives that clash entirely with our own. When we meet those we connect with somewhere along the personal plane, we tend to find that friendships form.

Many of these friendships bring long-lasting value and joy to our lives, but others change and fade with the passing of the years. Embracing this change is crucial; resisting it only makes it harder.

Have your friendships started to fade or shift in ways that feel confusing, or even painful?

Is a friend you once loved slowly turning into someone unfamiliar?

These changes can feel scary, even disorienting — but they’re also a natural part of growing. Life is constantly moving, reshaping, and so are we. Everything around us is always becoming something new. And that includes our friendships.

If your friendships have started to shift, the most honest thing you can do is pay attention. Accept what they are becoming, not just what they used to be.

This happens more often than not. I used to get very close with people, especially in my teens and early adulthood — sometimes whole groups that felt like a chosen family. We’d share everything, year after year, until one day the connection wasn’t quite the same. Without fights or fallouts, we started to drift. One by one, we grew apart. And when I look back, I realise there was no big moment that ended it. We simply outgrew each other.

Some of us stayed close. Others kept in touch every now and then. But most of us moved forward with our lives. No bad blood. Just… different paths.

Still, whenever this happens, there’s a part of us that wants to understand why. We start looking inward, wondering if we did something wrong. If we were too distant, too busy, or simply not enough. Or maybe we imagine they’re the ones who changed in a way we don’t recognise anymore.

As humans, we’re naturally a little insecure and a little judgmental. We want answers. But the truth is often softer than we think: it just happens. Life pulls us in different directions. We change jobs, change cities, build new routines, and meet new people. We fall in and out of love. We learn new things about ourselves. And in that process, some people stop fitting where they used to. Like a puzzle piece no longer fitting into the picture we’re assembling.

Keeping a friendship alive through all of that is hard. It takes presence, patience, and persistence on both sides. It takes a shared desire to keep showing up for each other, even when everything around you is shifting. Some friendships survive that. Others don’t.

And that’s okay.

There are people we’re better off parting ways with. Not out of resentment, but out of honesty. Because some people stay stuck in the same patterns they were in years ago. They’re not growing, not healing, not moving forward. They hold onto old drama, old identities, even old pain — and try to pull you back into it when you’ve already outgrown that version of yourself.

If you’re growing and someone else is not, the distance between you is not your fault.

As we grow, we begin to understand that not every connection is meant to last forever. Some people will only walk with you for a little while. Some were never meant to go any further than they did. That doesn’t mean they didn’t matter. And it doesn’t mean you failed.

We can’t control how others show up in our lives, or how they choose to love. And sometimes, no matter how deeply we care, we have to accept that not everyone will meet us where we are.
There’s something freeing in letting people be who they are, without trying to change or hold onto them. That’s what makes the “let them” mindset powerful — not as a cold dismissal, but as a gentle release. Let them leave if they need to. Let them stay if they want to. Let people come and go, and trust that the right ones will always find a way to meet you where you are.

Letting go doesn’t mean you never cared. It means you’re choosing peace over resistance. It means you’re not trying to hold onto something that’s already changed. It means you’re giving yourself permission to keep growing.

Some will leave quietly. Others you’ll have to walk away from with heavy steps. But either way, there is meaning in every connection — even the ones that don’t last.

There’s beauty in the fact that you shared something real with someone, even if it was only meant for a season. You gave each other good company while you could. And that counts for something.
So love them fully, even if it’s only in memory. Be kind to yourself in the act of letting go. Give yourself grace in the process. You’re allowed to miss them and still move forward.

You are in control of your peace. Let yourself grow, and let others do the same, whether or not they grow beside you. If it was meant to be different, it would’ve been. Maybe it’s for the better.

And maybe one day, you’ll understand exactly why it all happened the way it did. Till then, be kind to yourself. Time will pass anyway.

Under the shimmering moonlit sky sat Belaire Bar, a chic poolside lounge in the JW Marriott, a five-star hotel located in the Golden Triangle of Kuala Lumpur. The area was beautifully decorated with alternating purple and orange lights, setting a dramatic atmosphere for the fun night that was to come.

As dusk approached, the laughter-filled ambience was eased into silence with an echoed announcement from the emcees. 

        |   “Everyone, please find a seat. The games are about to begin!” 

And thus, the buzzing games commenced!

Trivia, a well-known knowledge-based game, was the first activity of the night. Participants were split into groups of five, each group voting on a leader who would represent them on the answering stand.

The trivia questions had a theme. Can you guess what the theme was..? It was general knowledge of Africa! An appropriate topic as it was an African Trivia Night after all!

After the gamemaster presents the questions, groups were given a short time to discuss their answers. Once they were ready, they sent their representative up to answer at the stand, a round table placed in the middle of the venue. Points were awarded for correct answers, and whichever group had the most points by the end of the game was declared the winner and was given a prize—vouchers for the next event by Afro Connect!

Next up was Family Feud! Family Feud is a game with its show hosted by Steve Harvey, and is well-known for its teamwork-based mechanics. However, in this version, Family Feud wasn’t played among actual families, but rather teams that might have just met. To win the game, each team had to rely on their coordination skills and synergy.

Two teams competed against each other at a time, with a ‘showdown’ vibe filling the air. The teams were positioned on opposite sides of a table, just like in the renowned show. Although the game was meant to follow the original format, Afro Connect added their own fun twist.

Instead of pressing a button to answer, anyone from either team could grab a pair of glasses placed on the table. Once a question was asked by the gamemaster, the first person to grab the glasses got the chance to answer. If they answered incorrectly, the opportunity was passed on to the other team.

Both fun games played encouraged teamwork, coordination, and critical thinking—perfect for a night aimed at bonding people who were once strangers. The atmosphere was joyful throughout, and the night was bursted with laughter (and party lights).

ETC Magazine was given the exclusive opportunity to gain more insight into the behind-the-scenes of the event. As such, we asked the members of the EXCO/BODs of Afro Connect the following questions:

    1. What inspired the idea behind African Trivia Night?
“We wanted a night where everyone could chill and take their minds off the stressful school environment.”

    2. Why is it important to celebrate African culture in college settings?
“Most African students are exchange students and far from their homes, we wanted to ensure that there is a community where they can feel at home, bringing them some comfort in a foreign country. We also want to share our culture and spread awareness to people in Malaysia.”

    3. What was the biggest challenge in planning and executing the event?
“Time, probably. We were pretty short of time due to everyone’s busy schedules, but in the end, we managed.”

    4. What was your favourite moment of the night?
“It was really nice to see everyone have fun dancing and mingling around, and having conversations with new people.”

Final Note
Special thanks to Afro Connect and their fantastic event. Follow them at @afro.connect_ to keep up with new events!