As humans attempt purification using fire, they are actually overcoming their yin and making amends for their sins. Phuket has the largest festival, but many other cities in Thailand celebrate the festival as well. Wednesday, May . According to tradition and belief, the purpose of the vegetarian festival is for participants to obtain peace of mind and good health. 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! 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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. 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. Therefore, it is important to come mentally prepared. You have to refrain from all sorts of intoxication. After arriving at Sapan Hin, there will be various performances such as martial arts demonstrations and music shows. The worshipers will follow the ten principles mentioned above to cleanse their spirits. 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. This dish comes with chicken or pork for the rest of the year. While most people may see walking on fire as something that is dangerous, devotees are confident that those who are purified and cleansed by the fire will come out unharmed. Otherwise it can land you in a mess. Hope that you love it too! The Phuket Vegetarian Festival attracts crowds of spectators because of many of the unusual religious rituals that are performed.[4][5]. These packages often include discounts on accommodations as well as access to exclusive events such as cooking classes or traditional ceremonies. Address: Bang Neow intersection, Phuket Road, Tambon Talat Yai, Mueang, Phuket 83000. The content and the images arenot recommended for the faint of heart! The Vegetarian Festival in Phuket typically lasts for nine days. 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. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a yearly event that is usually celebrated on the Chinese Calendars ninth lunar month falling somewhere between the months of September and October. Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Setiap manusia pasti memiliki kelebihan masing-masing yang membuat mereka menjadi unik. These markets are open from 5pm and are easy to access from Hua Lumphong MRT station. Since a little girl, I was always dreaming of exploring the far-away lands, the unseen beauty spots of the world. The devotees wear bright and very ornamented outfits, and then you are set for a full week of firecrackers, parades, piercings, and vegetarian food. Realistic vegetarian meats are used instead. Mio Cade on Flickr, Phuket, Thailand Fire Walking on Vegetarian Festival 2013, Jamie Monk on Flickr, Crossing the Bridge, Bertrand Linet on Flickr, Farewell ritual at the Phuket Vegetarian festival 2015. Soybean and protein substitute products are used to replace pork, chicken or fish they even look and taste exactly like meat. Masong are the people who invite the spirits of gods to possess their bodies. 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. These dishes also use protein substitutes such as soybeans which makes them almost impossible to distinguish from local dishes. 2.San-ching -Three Pure Ones It is an occasion when Buddhists go to the temple to perform merit-making activities, such as alms giving, meditation and listening to teachings. 8.Pa-hsien Eight Immortals. San Diego's biggest vegan festival is held at Encinitas' own outdoor bazaar. It is a nine-day celebration of Chinese culture and vegetarianism that has been celebrated for over 200 years. How to register for Test & Go on Thailand Pass system? It is believed that while they are possessed the masong will not feel any pain. Phuket Vegetarian Festival Sep 25, 2022 - Oct 4, 2022. 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. People in a grieving period should not attend the festival. Police arrested a Swedish man in Phuket, southern Thailand, on drug charges today and are preparing to revoke his permission to stay in the kingdom, reports . 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. And as you may have already inferred, Thailand's Veg-fest is not a meat-abhorring, food-loving, happy-go-lucky celebration. Also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, the festival is celebrated by Daoists throughout Thailand in areas with large populations of . Then, the Ma Song demonstrate their submission by presenting their expressive forms of self-mutilation in a public procession. Thousands of people will pay respect to their ancestors. Then, participants must observe or follow certain rules or commitments for nine days which include the following. For 2023, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival will be celebrated from October 13 to October 22. The procession walks from an ahm to Phuket town. The belief is that by abstaining from these types of food, participants will obtain good health and peace of mind. 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. The festival begins by the raising of a 10-meter-tall bamboo pole in all Chinese shrines across the island. One member of the opera group was then sent back to China to call on the Kiu Ong lah or the Nine Emperor Gods. Phuket Vegetarian Festival is the most popular in town for a reason. [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. Srah Srang - Chasing the Sun at the Royal Bathing Pool, Ta Keo Temple - The Mountain with Golden Peaks, Ta Prohm: Cambodia's 'Tomb Raider' Temple, Ta Som Temple - Home to the Propitious Holy Elephant Jewel, Tad Yuang Waterfall Wins ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award, Thailand eases entry rules from May 1st, 2022, Thailand Scraps More Covid-19 Rules to Welcome Tourists, The Best Spots & Tours to Catch Angkor Wat Sunrise & Sunset. Tired of reading, listen to our podcast below: The Hmong New Year celebration is a cultural tradition that takes place annually in select areas where large Hmong communities exist and in a modified form where smaller communities come together. During the New Year's celebration, Hmong dress in traditional clothing and enjoy Hmong traditional foods, dance, music, bull fights, and other forms of entertainment. [8] Hat Yai had more than 100 vegetarian food stalls during the 2022 festival. 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 few of the major shrines in Phuket for witnessing ceremonies include: The festivities move between various temples throughout the celebration; picking up a schedule of events will help you be in the right place at the right time. The architecture is heavily European, and the streets are lined with Sino-Portuguese buildings, quaint mansions, charming cafes and boutique shops. Devotees and participants see this ceremony as cleansing of their past impurities and a fresh start in life. Its a celebration of Chinese culture with an emphasis on vegan cuisine, street processions, and other religious rituals. However, before the first day of the festival, a ceremonial pole raising must be conducted. Many of these vegetarian dishes aren't easily distinguishable from regular Thai dishes. Songkran in Chiang Mai: What to do during the Festival? Its a world away from the urbanised jungles of Phuket. This year, the event will take place from 15th to 23rd October 2023. All of the then medicine failed to cure them so they unanimously decided to adopt a strict vegetarian diet. Angkor Wats Art: The Praise of Cambodia Stone Carvings. It was founded more than 80 years ago by the Chinese-Thai community in Phuket. We recommend the following websites and resources to help in planning your perfect trip to Thailand. It is celebrated by Chinese Buddhists and Taoists who abstain from eating meat for nine days as a way to purify their bodies and minds. Many temples throughout Phuket host special events such as lion dances, puppet shows, kite flying competitions, and food stalls selling vegetarian dishes prepared according to Buddhist principles (no meat or eggs). It is called the Raising of the Lantern Pole. The ninth day of the festival is its climax. With our guide, you can find all the best places to stay, eat and enjoy your holiday with ease. In addition to eating pure food, festival participants must keep their thoughts pure and wear white as a symbol of purity. Reopening Myanmar Tourism: What to expect? Technically, people who are in mourning are not supposed to attend the ceremonies in temples. History of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. This temple is considered to be one of the oldest in Phuket and is dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy. Various gory spectacles, perilous events and parades taking place, from sword piercings, fire walking, etc 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. Save Long Beach Vegan Festival VIP Pass to your collection. There are two terminals in the airport; Terminal 1 is used for international flights while Terminal 2 is used for domestic flights. Ma is the word for horse in Thai, and the name masong refers to how the spirits of the gods use the bodies of these people as a vehicle, as one rides a horse. After 5 great years I have decided to shut down VegEvents in order to focus on building All Impact Jobs. Experiencing the festival for the first time is life-changing as it really needs to be seen to be believed. The annual vegetarian festival will get under way between the first to the ninth day of the ninth lunar month in the Chinese calendar. Don't get in the way of participants who prepared for weeks before the event. The Phuket vegetarian festival has something special for all who attend and it will surely leave a lasting impression on your trip to Thailand. According to tradition, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival aims to bring good health and peace of mind by abstaining from meat, certain drinks, and activities that are considered impure or unclean. 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. Held at various locations throughout Phuket Island, this festival offers something for . Buses from the Southern Bus Terminal of Bangkok to Phuket are the most reliable and convenient way of travelling between the two cities and take up to 13 hours to reach Phuket. These ceremonies are definitely not for the faint of heart! One of the most popular dishes served during the festival is noodles. No meat or animal products to be consumed during the festival. There are participants who-as a medium of God- indulge in the act of self-mutilation. What is happening if you have a positive Covid test result when traveling in Thailand? It's believed that the Chinese gods will protect them from harm, resulting in little blood or scarring. Wu, Jave (2008), Celebration The Nine Emperors is formed by the seven stars of the Big Dipper of the North Ursa Major (visible) and two assistant stars (invisible to most people). It falls usually in the month of September or October. Phuket gears up for 9-day vegetarian festival. Most restaurants in and around Phuket remain shut during the festival. Por Pia Tod Jay () Deep-fried spring rolls. These can be found in various forms such as stir-fried or soup-based dishes with vegetables, mushrooms, tofu, and other plant-based ingredients. Bamboo poles are removed from the shrines the following day and safely out back for the next year. During the span of nine days or while the festival is in full effect, one can say that Thailand turns vegan. Once, we even saw a full collection of fake sushi, all made of rice and tofu! Alternatively, simply look for the yellow flags which indicate that a food stall or restaurant is participating in Vegetarian Festival these can be found all around the city, even at 7-Eleven. Today, most Nine Emperor God temples do not acknowledge the existence of Dou Fu Yuan Jun. It is a good idea to stay well away from this deafening and sometimes frightening aspect of the Vegetarian Festival. 31. The official Phuket Vegetarian Festival website has a schedule of events, but information may or may not be available in English. 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. Women in menstruation and pregnancy should not participate in the festival. 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. It is a nine-day Taoist celebration starting on the eve of the ninth lunar month in the Chinese calendar. Beach guides, things to do and hand-picked villa and hotel advice. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival attracts crowds of spectators because of many of the unusual religious rituals that are performed. Since the arrival of the Nine Emperor Gods is believed to be descending through the waterways, processions are held from temples to the seashore or river to symbolize this belief. A fun-fact here is that you will hardly find any vegetables on the stalls. During these nine days, there are various activities such as traditional dances, theatrical performances, martial arts demonstrations, firewalking rituals, and more to celebrate Chinese culture. Check out all the must-see places and things to do & see, Unique experience combined with top-notch services, Easy excursion combined with week-long beach break, Easy excursions combined with unique experience making the long-lasting romantic memories, The combination of fun and educational activities, Explorethe least visited destinations and unknown experienceon foot, Reveal off-the-beatentrack routes, least explored destinations, and unknown tribe groups, Explore every corners of the destination on two wheels, The combination ofsome must-see experience and the cruise tour along the mighty rivers. Terminal 2 is used for international flights while Terminal 2 is used for flights... On Thailand Pass system I have decided to adopt a strict vegetarian.... 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