Sat, Jul 2, 11:00 AM. The Shrine of the Serene Light, locally known as Sang Tham Shrine, is a beautifully decorated Chinese Temple on Phang Nga Road, one of the most famous streets of Phuket Town. Ma song are individuals who are believed to be possessed by the Nine Emperor Gods during the festival, and they play a central role in the spiritual rituals and ceremonies that take place. When the main festival starts, a crowd of worshipers, all dressed in white or yellow, gather at Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town for the first event marking the ceremonys opening: a giant bamboo pole rising to invite divinities to come down to earth. The royal ploughing ceremony, called Lehtun Mingala, or Mingala Ledaw, was also practiced in pre-colonial Burma until 1885 when the monarchy was abolished. Liputan6dotcom. In 2021 the festival was 5 - 15 October. Many restaurants across Phuket offer special menus for vegetarians during this period so its easy to find something delicious no matter what your dietary preferences may be. The Vegetarian Festival is an internationally known event, and while it also happens modestly in Bangkok around the same dates, it is mostly a Phuket event. This parade features colorful floats, marching bands, and dancers dressed in traditional costumes. ), Do not eat food with a strong smell (garlic), Keep and wash cooking utensils separately from those used in the event. When is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival? Some examples include tom yum goong (spicy shrimp soup), tom kha gai (chicken coconut soup) and kaeng jued wan (vegetable clear soup). Eventually, the festival has grown into a spectacle and is celebrated yearly in Phuket. From the 1800s, well into the 20th century, thousands of migrants from China arrived in Phuket to work in the tin mines and establish merchant Lai Thu Tao Bo Keng is one of the oldest Chinese shrines in Phuket, and many believe it was the birthplace of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival nearly two centuries ago. In pre-modern times, Magha Puja has been celebrated by some Southeast Asian communities. Phuket's vegetarian festival traditions include macabre scenes of ritualised mutilation, impaling, cutting, partial skinning and bloodletting, as well as intentional wrapping or standing near fire crackers as they are lit - all without any anaesthetic! These dishes also use protein substitutes such as soybeans which makes them almost impossible to distinguish from local dishes. Phuket Vegetarian Festival is celebrated all across the town. Firewalking ceremonies can be seen where devotees walk across burning charcoal without being burned and spirit mediums perform rituals on stage. Also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, the festival is celebrated by Daoists throughout Thailand in areas with large populations of . These packages often include discounts on accommodations as well as access to exclusive events such as cooking classes or traditional ceremonies. Noodle dishes, curries and soups are prepared without meat, fish sauce, eggs or dairy. Many streets are closed off to traffic during the festival period so that people can enjoy the festivities without disruption. Desserts made without dairy products such as mango sticky rice or banana fritters can also be found at stalls throughout the city during this time period. I have created these two VegResources.com guides to help you find vegan events without VegEvents: Principles to follow during the festival: Scary photos of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, Ten vegetarian food to try during the festival. Angkor Wat Tours - How to See the City of Temples without the Crowds? 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. What is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2022? Held at various locations throughout Phuket Island, this festival offers something for everyone to enjoy whether you are looking for delicious food or thrilling entertainment! Wednesday, May . Each day, the street procession starts from one of the leading Shrines in Phuket. 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. Copy Link. To achieve this, soybean and protein substitutes are used to replace meat and are shaped to look like the animal products they represent, often with a cartoon-like aesthetic. What to do & where to celebrate the New Year's Eve in Chiang Mai, What to do and where to Celebrate Your New Year's Eve in Bangkok. Since the arrival of the gods is believed to be through the waterways, processions are held from temples to the sea shore or river to symbolize this belief. On their arrival, the entire band got inflicted with a deadly Malaria pandemic. The Vegetarian Festival in Phuket is an annual event that takes place over nine days during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Those photos are easy to take, follow and enjoy the parade. It is a good idea to stay well away from this deafening and sometimes frightening aspect of the Vegetarian Festival. I love experiencing the different cultures of the different lands and sharing my dream with the whole world. 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. The festivities in Phuket include a procession of masong wearing elaborate costumes who pierce their cheeks and tongues with all manner of things, including swords, banners, machine guns, table lamps, and flowers. [3] 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). 7.Tien-shih This study has been made possible through the support by Fulbright Scholar grant PD2082693, the National Research Council of Thailand in Bangkok, and the members of the Phuket Provincial Cultural Office. [6] Vegan food is prepared because it is considered the most pure. Mee Pad Jay () fried flat rice noodles or round egg yellow noodles with kale, one of the most popular vegetarian dishes during the festival. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival. It's a celebration of Chinese culture with an emphasis on vegan cuisine, street processions, and other religious rituals. 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. Since a little girl, I was always dreaming of exploring the far-away lands, the unseen beauty spots of the world. Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Setiap manusia pasti memiliki kelebihan masing-masing yang membuat mereka menjadi unik. Visit the empty Angkor Wat? The dates change every year, as it's based on the Chinese lunar calendar. Phuket gears up for 9-day vegetarian festival. How many days do you need and how to plan the best itinerary in Laos? Vivid nature, voluptuous landscapes and a vibrant culture collide with a painful past and optimistic future to make Laos an enigmatic experience for the adventurous. The festival begins with a parade from each participating temple around the city center. Popular folk culture has it that the Nine Emperor Gods are actually sea pirates of the Ming dynasty that plotted to overthrow the Qing dynasty. Some of the feats performed include piercing cheeks with swords, walking on nails or hot coals, and climbing ladders made of knife blades! I'm a lover of all things adventurous with a particular passion for scuba diving and exploring Thailand's beautiful islands and beaches. Established in 1904, this shrine boasts dragon pillars and colourful paintings of stories and creatures believed to bring good luck and prosperity to devotees. Bertrand Linet on Flickr, Golden Lantern pole raising at the Phuket Vegetarian festival. Wu, Jave (2007), The term Ye as in Jiu Huang Ye (loosely translates as "Grandfather", a title worshipers commonly use to bring a more intimate relationship between themselves and the Nine Emperors. 1.Yu-huang -The Jade Emperor 5.San-kuan Three Officials According to tradition and belief, the purpose of the vegetarian festival is for participants to obtain peace of mind and good health. The said acts are accomplished by select participants who serve as the gods mediums. Thousands of people will pay respect to their ancestors. There are different stories behind how the Phuket Vegetarian Festival began, however the most widely accepted is the China Opera troupe Story. Soybean and protein substitute products are used to replace pork, chicken or fish they even look and taste exactly like meat. This was done to ensure that the body and the mind are cleansed or purified. And as you may have already inferred, Thailand's Veg-fest is not a meat-abhorring, food-loving, happy-go-lucky celebration. The dates change every year, as it's based on the Chinese lunar calendar. The preparation for the festival gears up long before the main day. It is mostly celebrated in South-Eastern Asian countries but particularly in Thailand. Full Moon Party in Thailand: The Ultimate Guide to Koh Phangans Iconic Event! Text and Photos are Copyright Phuket 101 and Willy Thuan 2011 - 2023 - Copy or use of images or texts without written authorization is strictly prohibited (Credit to or mention of the blog does not constitute authorization). These rituals are seen as acts of spiritual devotion and self-mortification, and are believed to bring good fortune and blessings to the community. The ninth day of the festival is its climax. What to eat during Phuket Vegetarian Festival? How many days do you need and how to plan the best itinerary in Thailand? Many of these vegetarian dishes aren't easily distinguishable from regular Thai dishes. There are also direct flights to India, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Germany, among other countries. Choose the country you plan to visit, then search for your nationality below to see our special travel tips & advice for your country. The worship of Dou Fu Yuan Jun has declined strongly as proper teachings of Taoism degenerate since being exported out of China. Each day of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, processions start from one of the leading shrines around Phuket island. The Vegetarian Festival in Thailand is an annual event celebrated by the Chinese community in Thailand. Luang Prabang Authorities Release 2022 Lao New Year Events Schedule, Luang Prabang City and Kuang Si Waterfall Win ASEAN Tourism Awards, Luang Prabang Holds First Boat Racing Festival After Years of Covid-19, Neak Pean Temple - The Entwining Serpents. Along with the restrictive vegan diet, they also vowed to pray to the Nine Emperor God known as the Kiu Ong Lah, for the reason of cleansing their body and soul. They must undergo a period of physical and spiritual preparation before the festival, including fasting and abstaining from meat and other stimulants. Otherwise it can land you in a mess. Various gory spectacles, perilous events and parades taking place, from sword piercings, fire walking, etc The Phuket Vegetarian Festival (or Nine Emperor Gods Festival) happens once a year, during the ninth lunar month, and is one of the most auspicious events on Phuket island. The temple houses 2 historical images that are believed to bring good luck. Like it or hate it but you can certainly not remain indifferent to it. The best place to celebrate this festival in Phuket is Phuket Town, where the majority of the Chinese shrines are located and where most participants gather. 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. This year, the event will take place from 15th to 23rd October 2023. Also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival or the Kin Jay Festival, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is an annual event celebrated primarily by the Chinese community in Thailand and throughout Southeast Asia. The purpose of this practice is a mixture of veneration for their gods and ancestors, to display their devotion to their beliefs and the trance itself, which has a profound impact upon demeanour for days or weeks after, frequently with devotees appearing exceptionally calm and focused in their day-to-day activities after the festival is completed. The 2022 Phuket Vegetarian Festival (aka Nine Emperor Gods Festival) will take place from 25 September - 5 October 2022. WHAT MORE? 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