STAY UPBEAT DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL; SPIRITS ARE EASILY ATTRACTED TO THOSE WHO ARE SAD OR WORRIED
Master Jun Hong Lu: During the Ullambana Festival, it is best that you go about your chores steadily. By doing so, you avert inviting the unwanted attention of the foreign spirits. This is because a slightest change in you could stoke the interests of foreign spirits. For example, out of a sudden, if you are overwhelmed by grief and sorrow, they will immediately come for you.
There is a folk belief that during the Ullambana Festival, even if you need to pretend to be happy and smiling, you have to do it. This is because as soon as you feel sorrowful or troubled, the spirits will come for you. They may even occupy your body and start having a conversation with you, causing you to suffer from misfortune. These are all possible phenomena.
Source: Wenda20180831 16:46, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
