Taipei: Taiwanese independent bookstore To-uat Books will host a "Spirit of Books" bazaar on Qingdao East Road in Taipei's Zhongzheng District on Aug. 15, focusing on Taiwan's Ghost Month traditions and the country's future.

According to Focus Taiwan, the event will feature 19 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and 17 other independent bookstores and publishers. The NGOs will present the public issues they support, while the participating bookstores and publishers, referred to by the organizers as custodians of "Taiwan's democratic and cultural memory," will offer curated book selections.

Eight folk arts groups are scheduled to participate, providing visitors with an opportunity to engage with traditional Taiwanese culture through activities such as face painting. The event organizers have planned a "Zhongyuan Pudu" evening ceremony starting at 7 p.m., which will include collective prayers and cultural rituals. Indigenous singer Ilid Kaolo is set to perform during the ceremony.

Zhongyuan Pudu is a traditional Ghost Festival ritual that honors spirits believed to be released from the underworld during Ghost Month. This year's Ghost Festival is on Aug. 27, with Ghost Month spanning from Aug. 13 to Sept. 10 on the lunar calendar.

Chang Hui-ju, owner of To-uat Books, expressed that the event is designed to unite individuals who are passionate about democracy, human rights, culture, and Taiwan's future. The event poses the question, "What kind of Taiwan do we want?" to its attendees.

Chang noted that last year's inaugural event was met with enthusiasm. This year's focus will be on Taiwan in 1946, a pivotal year following the Kuomintang's takeover after World War II and preceding the February 28 Incident in 1947.

The bazaar will commence at 3 p.m., with stalls set up along Qingdao East Road starting from its intersection with Zhongshan South Road. This section of the road will be closed to traffic during the event.