Knock knock, WoOoO's there? The Hungry Ghost Festival chatbot

CNA Lifestyle

Knock knock, WoOoO'south there? The Hungry Ghost Festival chatbot

Knock knock, WoOoO's there? The Hungry Ghost Festival chatbot — A tongue-in-cheek photo featuring the invisible Mr WooOoOoOOoo, a chatbot for the Hungry Ghost Festival. (Photo: Facebook/Mr WooOoOoOOo)

SINGAPORE: Singapore's new mascot for intangible heritage is invisible - Mr WoOoO, a ghostly chatbot, is prepare to help Singaporeans understand Hungry Ghost Festival traditions, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) said on Th (Aug 16).

Souls of the dead are believed to roam among the living during the month-long festival, which falls in the seventh month of the lunar calendar. This year, it started on Aug 11.

"Mr Woo (full proper noun: Mr WoOoO) (is) in town on his yearly trip in search of practiced food, exciting concerts and intriguing ceremonies," MCCY said in its press release.

Singapore'southward commencement chatbot for the festival already has a profile on Facebook. Mr Woo is available on Facebook Messenger until Sep 9, the ministry said.

"Mr Woo is friendly, learned and loves char kway teow. He is likewise brimming with data on the festival's origins and practices, having built upwards his store of knowledge by consulting religious leaders from Buddhist and Taoist faiths," MCCY said.

Mr Woo will guide users to his favourite haunts, like Buddhist or Taoist temples and getai performances, co-ordinate to MCCY.

It will also prompt users to participate in a daily quiz about the festival and use memes, GIFs and emojis to appoint them.

The ministry added that Mr Woo is one of the means it is using digital tools to "assistance build greater understanding and appreciation of Singapore's intangible cultural heritage".