The Nine Emperor Stars are: On the eve of the lunar ninth month, temples dedicated to Nine Emperor Gods will conduct an important ceremony to invoke and welcome the Nine Emperor Gods. [9], During the festival, food stalls sell Thai and Chinese food made without animal products. In addition to eating pure food, festival participants must keep their thoughts pure and wear white as a symbol of purity. Devotees not only adopt a special diet for the holiday, a select few participants prove their devotion by practicing self-mutilation. It runs for nine days and is considered a bizarre festival. Most devotees stay at the temple, eat vegetarian meals and recite continuous chanting of prayer. The festival culminates with a parade featuring colorful floats decorated with lanterns that are carried through the streets accompanied by music and chanting. Its a celebration of Chinese culture with an emphasis on vegan cuisine, street processions, and other religious rituals. It's believed that the Chinese gods will protect them from harm, resulting in little blood or scarring. However, linking to the blog is welcomed. We believe you have the right to arm yourselves with as much information as possible before making any decision. Participants, both women, and men will pierce their cheeks with skewers and knives, and other similar items. Visitors from all over Thailand come to witness this unique event which has been celebrated since 1825. Keep yourself clean throughout the festival. There's a magic about this charming yet confounding kingdom that casts a spell on visitors. It is a nine-day Taoist celebration starting on the eve of the ninth lunar month in the Chinese calendar. It is celebrated throughout the entire country, but the festivities are at their height in Phuket, where over the half of the population is Peranakans. Cindy quit her 9 to 5 job to pursue her passion for exploring mesmerizing locations in Thailand. San Diego's biggest vegan festival is held at Encinitas' own outdoor bazaar. Otherwise it can land you in a mess. I love experiencing the different cultures of the different lands and sharing my dream with the whole world. Close to the tail end of September and budding October, the ninth Chinese lunar month is when Phuket Vegetarian Festival is celebrated. 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For the next few days, the local Chinese/Thai community brings their household gods to the temple, along with offerings of food and drink. The best place to book a hotel for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival and be near one of the parades would be one of the heritage hotels in Phuket town. Established in 1904, this shrine boasts dragon pillars and colourful paintings of stories and creatures believed to bring good luck and prosperity to devotees. It attracts thousands of tourists annually with most visitors coming from other Asian destinations, especially from China. Ultimately, the goal of the festival is to express the happiness of the people who survived a 19th-century deadly disease and to honour the gods who heeded their call for help. It is celebrated mainly by Chinese Thai people and involves abstaining from meat, as well as other activities such as parades, street processions, and temple ceremonies. Once, we even saw a full collection of fake sushi, all made of rice and tofu! 1.Yu-huang -The Jade Emperor The festival celebrates the Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. Vegetarian Festival is not limited to Phuket, as it is celebrated throughout Thailand, particularly in cities with large Chinese populations, such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Por Pia Tod Jay () Deep-fried spring rolls. The masong tradition which is similar to Tng-ki also exist among the Chinese communities in Singapore and Malaysia during this festival. Save Long Beach Vegan Festival VIP Pass to your collection. The peculiarity of this festival lies in its extreme celebrations that include body piercing, fire walking, climbing tall leaders of sharp blades, throwing firecrackers on the devotees etc. For starters, the festival should start on the very first day of the Chinese lunar calendars ninth month. It draws thousands of visitors each year, many of whom come from China and Asian destinations. A carnival-like atmosphere pervades the temple throughout the nine-day festival. Devotees dressed in traditional white, carrying incense and candles, await for their arrival. The festival in Thailand also includes special programs and specific local patterns like Bung Fai (Parade dance) and a Beautiful Bung Fai float such as Yasothon the third weekend of May, and continues Suwannaphum District, Roi Et on the first weekend of June, Phanom Phrai District Roi Et during the full moon of the seventh month in Lunar year's calendar each year. This ceremony is usually calm and quiet.However, you can see a lot of buzz later in the week during the parades. The town has a number of major Chinese Shrines and a lot of the restaurants replace their menus during the festivities to only do vegetarian dishes. It is a nine-day celebration that takes place during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar and usually falls between October and November. During this festival, people abstain from eating meat and other animal products for nine days as a way to purify their bodies and minds. There are two terminals in the airport; Terminal 1 is used for international flights while Terminal 2 is used for domestic flights. Segregate your utensils from those who are not participating. If youre looking for something more affordable, there are also plenty of hostels and guesthouses located throughout the city that offer comfortable lodging at an economical price point. This temple is considered to be one of the oldest in Phuket and is dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy. According to Priest Long Hua, this information is inaccurate and considered derogatory to the actual teachings of Taoism as the. Address: Bang Neow intersection, Phuket Road, Tambon Talat Yai, Mueang, Phuket 83000. Apart from the visual spectacle of this festival, you can partake in vegetarian dishes, which are sold at street stalls and markets around the island. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival held in autumn - also known under its more Taoist-inspired name Nine Emperor Gods Festival - is no exception. Hmong New Year celebrations frequently occur in November and December (traditionally at the end of the harvest season when all work is done), serving as a Thanksgiving holiday for the Hmong people. To have the best shot of the most gruesome actions on the street, we recommend booking your accommodation in the center of Phuket. Second: the walking is more of a jump as fast as you can above the charcoal, so with the lack of light, taking sharp images is difficult, so get ready to freeze the moment with a well-calibrated flash (too much flash would kill the atmosphere). The Phuket Vegetarian Festival begins on the first day of the ninth month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, so dates change annually. 8.Pa-hsien Eight Immortals. The shrine is located in the subdistrict of Kathu in the islands interior, between Phuket Town and Patong Beach. At the same time, the devotees will go in procession, self-inflicting all kinds of tortures to shift other worshipers evil onto themselves to bring luck back to the community. Born in France a long long time ago, I started to travel the world early and never stopped until I settled in Thailand in 1994. The malaria-stricken Chinese opera group recovered from their illness and since then, the inhabitants of Phuket continue the festivals celebration. Vietnam or Thailand Travel: Which one should you visit? 5.San-kuan Three Officials Then, participants must observe or follow certain rules or commitments for nine days which include the following. The Nine Emperor Stars are: On the eve of the ninth moon, temples of the deities hold a ceremony to invoke and welcome the nine emperors. Parades usually start at 9 minutes past the hour, disrupting traffic during morning rush hours. We are looking for writers. For several days, on both sides of Phuket Town streets leading to shrines, food stands display tons of vegetarian dishes in all imaginable shapes and sizes (but often have a very similar taste). Also to maintain purity devout festival participants abstain from sex, alcohol and stimulants during the festival. [10] Many varieties of tofu are prepared and sold during the festival. Inland Empire IE Vegan Sundays. Although the Vegetarian Festival can seem like a bizarre carnival, it is still a deeply religious event; show respect and stay out of the way! The Rocket Festival (Boun Bang Fai) is a merit-making ceremony traditionally practiced by ethnic Lao people near the beginning of the wet season in numerous villages and municipalities, in the regions of Northeastern Thailand and Laos. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a unique event that takes place annually in Thailand and draws visitors from around the world. Note that most non-vegetarian restaurants in Phuket Town will close for a week, but the restaurants in all beach resorts will operate normally, so dont worry too much. With our guide, you can find all the best places to stay, eat and enjoy your holiday with ease. One of the oldest shrines on the island, Kathu Shrine is believed to have been the first shrine to observe the festivities of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Explore the Wonders of Scuba Diving in Thailand! Even so, most injuries are usually sustained from the indiscriminate use of firecrackers. There is a whole universe of special deals, offers and travel advice online. Don't get in the way of participants who prepared for weeks before the event. [4] [5] Shops in Phuket and throughout Thailand display red and yellow jay flags to indicate they are serving appropriate vegan food for observant participants. Running for nine days, the vegetarian festival in Phuket is considered by many to be the most extreme and bizarre of festivals in Thailand. On the day, Buddhists celebrate the creation of an ideal and exemplary community, which is why it is sometimes called Sagha Day, the Sagha referring to the Buddhist community, and for some Buddhist schools this is specifically the monastic community. The capital of Phuket province, Old Town is a place steeped in history. [7] Bangkok and Chiang Mai also have many vendors selling vegan food during the festival. 7.Tien-shih While it is often associated with blood and gore, the festival is deep-rooted in tradition and the ancient beliefs of the local Chinese community. Email:jordan@thailandnomads.com, https://www.thailandnomads.com/author/cindyb/, Phuket Vegetarian Festival: The Complete Guide to Visiting It, 5 Best Cannabis Shops in Phuket - 2023 Travellers Guide, Best Muay Thai Training Centers in Koh Tao 2023 Guide, Everything You Need to Know About the Koh Tao Weather 2023 Guide, Best Golf Courses in Phuket That Are A Must-Visit for Golf Lovers, 7 Must Visit Night Markets in Phuket 2023 Update. A carnival-like atmosphere pervades the temple throughout the nine-day festival. While large crowds of people gather to watch, the entranced mah song distribute blessed candy and pieces of orange cloth with Chinese characters printed on them yan for good luck. It is believed that there will be rain throughout the nine days of celebration. Apparently, traveling monks were crossing through fields, thus destroying the crops of villagers and farmers. It is an occasion when Buddhists go to the temple to perform merit-making activities, such as alms giving, meditation and listening to teachings. On the last day, devotees from all the Chinese shrines assemble in Phuket town and walk towards the Saphan Hin. The festival begins with a parade from each participating temple around the city center. These rules are a must-follow for anyone who participates in the festival. Realistic vegetarian meats are used instead. What is the Phuket vegetarian festival all about? While the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is celebrated across Thailand, the said festival is most celebrated and observed in Phuket. People gathering around an am from early morning to witness piercing ceremony and to participate in the parade afterwards, Masong are getting ready to participate in the morning parade starting from one of the am in Western Phuket, Masong pending to have his cheeks pierced, Piercing is supervised by medical staff and performed using special instruments. In 2021 the festival was 5 - 15 October. Apart from the Goddesses, there are brave chinese warriors and young devotees.The best place to book a hotel is near this shrine or any other prominent one. We recommend the following websites and resources to help in planning your perfect trip to Thailand. But it became widely popular in the modern period, when it was instituted in Thailand by King Rama IV in the mid-19th century. If you go to Soi 20 of Charoen Krung Road, the area is transformed into an event space full of food stalls and fruit sellers. 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"STREET PROCESSION RITUAL"The Vegetarian Festival celebrates the belief of a Chinese community in Phuket, Thailand. The food offerings at the Phuket Vegetarian Festival are a unique and delicious experience, so be sure to sample some of the local delicacies. Celebrate one of the most famous and spectacular cultural events in Phuket. The American chef Dan Sriprasert used the vegan recipes he learned to make at his mother's food stall in Nan, Thailand during the festival to create the menu for the popular Green Elephant Vegetarian Bistro in the United States. You can eat at the various vegetarian stalls set up on the street. These ceremonies are definitely not for the faint of heart! Some resorts even provide complimentary transportation from nearby airports or train stations so you dont have to worry about getting around town once you arrive in Phuket. Other Places to Celebrate Vegetarian Festival in Thailand, The official Phuket Vegetarian Festival website, Yi Peng - The Magnificent Chiang Mai Lantern Festival of Light, Loy Krathong - The Magnificent Thai Lantern Festival of Light, Dragon Dances & Other New Years Traditions In Asia, Songkran - Everything about Thailand New Years Water Festival, Ultimate Guide to Koh Phangan Full Moon Party, Thailand, [Updated March 15th, 2022] Vietnam resumes visa exemption for 13 countries, 10 Biggest Festivals, Events, and Holidays in Cambodia, 16 Koh Phangan Parties & Nightlife Spots that You Cannot Miss, 18 Unmissable Festivals & Holidays in Laos, A comprehensive guide to Thailands Test & Go Scheme, A day trekking to 100 waterfalls in Nong Khiaw, All aboard! Both air-conditioned as well as non-air-conditioned buses are available at different prices. Weeks before the Vegetarian Festival events, yellow Chinese flags bloom on every roadside and intersection, especially near Chinese temples. 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