The seventh month of the lunar calendar — the Hungry Ghost Festival (中元节) — is when many Chinese families in Singapore remember their ancestors and make offerings to spirits believed to roam during this period. In 2026 it runs from 13 August to 10 September, and the 15th day, Zhong Yuan Jie, falls on 27 August — the most significant day for prayers.
If you would rather order than cook, plenty of established caterers now handle the whole thing — from ready-to-pray offering sets to buffets for a family dinner or a getai gathering. We checked each caterer's own 2026 pages and grouped them by what they do best.
What families usually prepare
Offerings vary by family and dialect group, but commonly include roast meats (roast pork, duck, chicken), a whole fish, fruit (oranges and pineapples are auspicious, sometimes stacked into fruit towers), rice and dry goods, and tea. Many households also hold a dinner or contribute to a communal getai meal — which is where buffet catering comes in.
How to choose
- A complete offering set in one order → Neo Garden. Its Lucky Sets, fruit towers, buffet and dry-ration hampers can all go on one order, and it has a halal menu.
- A buffet for a family or office gathering → FattyDaddyFattyMummy (early-bird 15% off by 15 Aug), Select Catering or RichFood.
- A smaller home prayer → JCatering, which does mini-buffets without a large minimum.
- Not sure yet? → FoodLine lets you compare hundreds of caterers by price per pax, minimum pax and halal certification.
Before you order
- Order early. Most caterers need 2–5 working days; offering sets and fruit towers often need the full five, and early-bird discounts reward booking ahead.
- Watch the extras. Delivery is usually charged separately (Neo Garden's is $45), most prices are subject to GST, and buffets carry a minimum pax (Neo Garden's is 30).
- Reconfirm on the day. Prices, dishes and availability move with the season and market prices — reconfirm on the caterer's own site or by phone before you commit, and check halal certification if you need it.
