Phuket is another 5 hours by bus from Phun Phin, which is located in the Surat Thani Province of Thailand. There are also performances by local musicians playing drums and gongs to accompany the procession. The abstinence from eating any kind of me. Firewalking ceremonies can be seen where devotees walk across burning charcoal without being burned and spirit mediums perform rituals on stage. The royal ploughing ceremony, called Lehtun Mingala, or Mingala Ledaw, was also practiced in pre-colonial Burma until 1885 when the monarchy was abolished. 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The most happening of all is the last day that marks the end of this festival. Get ready to explore what the Phuket Vegetarian Festival has to offer; we will provide insight into where it happens, what activities can be experienced during the festival, different types of food offerings available as well as accommodation options so you dont miss out on any part of this extraordinary cultural experience! Most devotees stay at the temple, eat vegetarian meals, maintain celibacy and recite continuous chanting of prayer. The participants who prepare to volunteer their bodies to the gods are called the Ma Song. After the gods have passed through the shrine doors, all lights inside the shrine are turned off and access points are closed. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival attracts crowds of spectators because of many of the unusual religious rituals that are performed. During this period of time, the constant tinkling of a prayer bell and chants from the temple priests or mediums are heard. These include invoking the gods through different self-mutilating acts such as body piercing and fire walking. As stated in the previous section of this guide, The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is commonly celebrated from late September to October and this can change based on the lunar calendar of the Chinese. Get ready to wait and feel the heat for an hour or so: you have to save a place near the burning charcoal early not to have anyone in front of you, which means sweating for at least an hour. They believe that adopting a vegetarian diet and paying homage to the nine Gods wards off the evil spirits. 6.San-yuan Three Epochs Its a place of worship for the local Chinese-Thai community and it plays an important role as the site of the final farewell to the gods during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival Hok Nguan Kong Shrine is a Chinese temple near the Surin Clock Circle in Phuket Town. 31 Okt 2018, 09:02 WIB. The Nine Emperor Gods should not be mixed up with the Wang Ye or Princes of the Ming rebels. During this period of time, the constant tinkling of a prayer bell and chants from the temple priests are heard. Come and experience the joy of Thailands Phuket Vegetarian Festival! Men and women puncture their cheeks with sharp items, including knives and skewers. Each day of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, processions start from one of the leading shrines around Phuket island. Where to Experience the Phuket Vegetarian Festival? It is to be seen once in your life, but it attracts a crowd of photographers who want their share of weird photos to take back home with such eerie views. The opera group made a complete recovery and the epidemic ceased. Most restaurants in and around Phuket remain shut during the festival. Your guide to the perfect holiday in Thailand. The Royal Ploughing Ceremony (Khmer: Preah Reach Pithi Chrot Preah Neangkol; Sinhala: Vap Magula; Thai: Phra Ratcha Phithi Charot Phra Nangkhan Raek Na Khwan) also known as The Ploughing Festival is an ancient royal rite held in many Asian countries to mark the traditional beginning of the rice growing season. How many days does the Vegetarian festival in Phuket last? Technically, people who are in mourning are not supposed to attend the ceremonies in temples. This festival offers live music and games and is family- and pet-friendly. The procession walks from an ahm to Phuket town. Visitors from all over Thailand come to witness this unique event which has been celebrated since 1825. Those photos are easy to take, follow and enjoy the parade. Why do Phuketians celebrate it? The food offerings at the Phuket Vegetarian Festival are a unique and delicious experience, so be sure to sample some of the local delicacies. 20 Date Ideas in Bangkok: Romantic, Fun, Unusual, or Free, What to Wear for Rainy Season in Thailand: Essential Things to Pack, Your Ultimate Guide to Visiting Surin Beach, Monitor Lizards in Thailand: Things You Should Know. The Chinese observe the tradition of abstaining from telling lies, quarrelling, having sex, drinking alcohol, and eating meat. You can observe and even participate in the lighting of joss sticks and candles, before placing them around the various gods. Typically the festival is held in autumn, near the end of September and beginning of October. The dates change every year, as it's based on the Chinese lunar calendar. The Memory at On On Hotel is a real heritage, and a few small guesthouses built on those old Sino Portuguese shophouses are too. There are over 40 chinese shrines in Phuket and all of them take out a parade during the festival. Hope that you love it too! It offers a unique opportunity to explore Thai culture and cuisine in an exciting way. If you want to write for us, please get in touch. What is the Phuket vegetarian festival all about? The annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket always starts off at the Jui Tsui Chinese Shrine in Phuket Town when the Chinese spirits and gods come down to participate in the 10 day festival. Keep yourself clean throughout the festival. A Message from VegEvents. Held at various locations throughout Phuket Island, this festival offers something for . The 2022 Phuket Vegetarian Festival (aka Nine Emperor Gods Festival) is taking place from 25 September - 5 October 2022. It's believed that the Chinese gods will protect them from harm, resulting in little blood or scarring. To really see the festival at its best, you'll want to go there. 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). Devotees come out in bright traditional Chinese costumes and carry their household Gods to the big temples. For this unique occasion, a crowd of devotees assemble in every Chinese shrine around the island, followed by an even bigger horde of photographers avid to get the shot of their life. 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Unreliable citations may be challenged or deleted. (and get our downloadable Phuket Travel Guide PDF for free too!). Wat Phou - the Ancient Khmer Temple in Southern Laos. Phuket Vegetarian Festival is celebrated all across the town. Below are some of them: There is this belief within the Chinese community that fire can repel evil influence and overcome impurity. 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! Buddhist Lent Day (Thailand Wan Khao Phansa, Laos Boun Khao Phansa) is the start of the three-month period during the rainy season when monks are required to remain in a particular place such as a monastery or temple grounds. These dishes also use protein substitutes such as soybeans which makes them almost impossible to distinguish from local dishes. Refrain from sexual activities during the festival. For 2023, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival will be celebrated from October 13 to October 22. For other festivals, see, Nine Emperor Gods Festival celebration in popular folk culture. The ninth day of the festival is its climax. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival begins on the first day of the ninth month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, so dates change annually. Noodle dishes, curries and soups are prepared without meat, fish sauce, eggs or dairy. 125 N Broadway Santa Ana, CA. [7] Bangkok and Chiang Mai also have many vendors selling vegan food during the festival. Explore the Wonders of Scuba Diving in Thailand! However, for those who want to try out the wide variety of vegetarian dishes offered during this festival, Phuket Town is definitely the place tourists should check out. Street processions often involve participants walking in a trance, running across a bed of burning coals, and climbing an 8-metre ladder of sharp blades. It always has been my favourite Phuket event / festival and I always used to take too many photos! Loy Krathong in Bangkok - Where to have the best celebration? This procession symbolizes the purification of the body and soul before entering into a period of abstinence from meat consumption during the festival days. Its one of the main shrines taking part in the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival and is a place of worship and merit-making activity for the local Chinese-Thai community throughout the year. The festival always starts on the first day of the 9th Chinese lunar month (though the pole-raising ceremony is the night before). The peak of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is on the ninth, or last, day as the ceremony becomes a farewell frenzy for sending the gods home to the sky. Here, they will meditate, pray, study, and teach other young monks. Por Pia Tod Jay () Deep-fried spring rolls. 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