The irony is that real vegetables are hard to find: you mostly will find noodles, deep-fried stuff, and tofu shaped like meat, but no vegetables. This is mostly because the festival involves self-mutilation by a few participants in order to show their loyalty to their Deities aside from adopting a special diet for the duration of the festival. Florian Christian on Flickr, Vegetarian festival Phuket, Florian Christian on Flickr, Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Long Hua, the 35th generation Taoist priest from Singapore, honouring the Northern Dipper stars prolongs one's life, eliminate calamities, and absolves sins and past debts of oneself and his family. Sat, Jun 25, 11:00 AM. Cindy quit her 9 to 5 job to pursue her passion for exploring mesmerizing locations in Thailand. Choose the country you plan to visit, then search for your nationality below to see our special travel tips & advice for your country. Koh Lanta island is one of the most popular destinations for new years eve party in Thailand for backpackers. That is where I can best use my software development skills to help the world. It's believed that the Chinese gods will protect them from harm, resulting in little blood or scarring. It is assumed that the household gods will benefit from an annual injection of spiritual energy that fills the temple. Devotees come out in bright traditional Chinese costumes and carry their household Gods to the big temples. This year, the event will take place from 15th to 23rd October 2023. There are also performances by local musicians playing drums and gongs to accompany the procession. When is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival? This is Phuket's most famous and spectacular festival. Some examples include tom yum goong (spicy shrimp soup), tom kha gai (chicken coconut soup) and kaeng jued wan (vegetable clear soup). Devotees are expected to wear white and keep pure thoughts; they give up meat, sex, alcohol, stimulants, and strong foods such as garlic and spice. Wear white to honor the Nine Emperor Gods. The streets of Phuket island are crowded with the thousands of visitors, mostly from Asia and China, that visit to participate in the festival every year. In pre-modern times, Magha Puja has been celebrated by some Southeast Asian communities. What is the vegetarian festival in Thailand? 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. During this 9-day period, local residents of Chinese ancestry strictly observe a vegetarian or vegan diet for the purpose of spiritual cleansing and merit-making. The main temple is Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town. Where to Celebrate Your New Year's Eve in Phuket, Xe Champhone Loop - the hidden beauty of central Laos, Cleanliness of the body during the festival, Clean kitchen utensils not to be used by others who do not participate in the festival, Behave correctly, both physically and mentally, People in mourning should not participate, Pregnant women and menstruating women should not attend ceremonies. During this time, locals observe a strict vegetarian diet and take part in various religious ceremonies such as processions with ornately decorated floats and firewalking rituals. Magha Puja (also written as Makha Bucha Day) is the third most important Buddhist festival, celebrated on the full moon day of the third lunar month in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Sri Lanka and on the full moon day of Tabaung in Myanmar. 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. Wednesday, May . But dont get too excited about this event until you have read our bottom line in this article or you might regret later. From the vibrant street processions to the delicious vegetarian dishes, there is something for everyone at this festival. The festival is becoming more eventful year after year. For other festivals, see, Nine Emperor Gods Festival celebration in popular folk culture. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Many streets are closed off to traffic during the festival period so that people can enjoy the festivities without disruption. This festival offers live music and games and is family- and pet-friendly. It celebrates the unique belief of the chinese community in the holiness of vegetarian food. Only pure, unmarried men or women without families of their own can become masong. OC VEGAN FEST @ THE DEN DTSA - JUNE 25, 2022. Popular dishes are vegetarian pink noodle soup, which uses mushrooms to substitute pork blood cubes, fried tofu, deep-fried spring roll, and fried taro.[8]. Copy Link. It offers a unique opportunity to explore Thai culture and cuisine in an exciting way. 3.Yuan-shih Tien-tsun The First Principal This dish comes with chicken or pork for the rest of the year. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is the annual nine-day event taking place during the ninth Chinese lunar month. High-speed train offers compelling new way to travel through Laos, All about Full Moon Lantern Festival in Hoi An, All about Laos Elephant Festival in Xayabouly, All about Laos Green Pass Online Visa Portal, All about Laos sticky rice & the best dipping sauce to pair with, An insiders guide for That Luang Festival, Angelina Jolie surprises fans by turning up at Angkor Wat, Angkor - The Capital City of Khmer Empire, Angkor Thom Temple - The Great City of Khmer Empire, Angkor Wat - Cambodias Mystical City of Temples. Along the way, local Thai of Chinese descent prepare food offerings on small tables and receive blessings. 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. During the span of nine days or while the festival is in full effect, one can say that Thailand turns vegan. It is believed that there will be rain throughout the nine days of the celebration. They can also be seen shaking their heads back and forth continually, and usually do not seem to "see" their surroundings. The five most ancient Shrines are Put Jaw, Jui Tui, Bang Niew, Cherng Talay, and Kathu Shrine. Long Beach Vegan Festival VIP Pass. Thailands many festivals are always a marvel and something everyone should experience at least once. If you want to write for us, please get in touch. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a unique event that takes place annually in Thailand and draws visitors from around the world. Participants who wish to be forgiven of their transgressions and to repent should prepare a monetary offering and a paper cutout of themselves before doing the ceremonial bridge-crossing ritual. Here are our recommendation for your accommodation: Below is the Youtube video about Phuket Vegetarian Festival if you want to go further. This area is usually closed-off during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival and it is here that vegetarian food stalls abound. As such, tourists who want to experience the full-on spectacle of the festival should proceed to Phuket Island. Now is the best time! Some of the airlines with frequent routes between India and Phuket are Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Jet Airways. A fun-fact here is that you will hardly find any vegetables on the stalls. 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. Refrain from sexual activities during the festival. Despite this scenario, many of the people performing the rituals are also the people who will care for many of the people in their recovery. One of the most popular events during this festival are colorful parades with participants dressed in traditional costumes carrying ornate floats. Parades usually start at 9 minutes past the hour, disrupting traffic during morning rush hours. The dishes are prepared without the use of garlic, chili, or strong spices. Namun, keahlian yang dimiliki orang-orang berikut ini benar-benar langka dan tak biasa. It is an occasion when Buddhists go to the temple to perform merit-making activities, such as alms giving, meditation and listening to teachings. If you are a faint-hearted person, we advise you to not watch these parades as the devotees perform eerie acts of self-mutilation such as slicing their tongues with a sword, piercing their body and face with sharp skewers, etc. 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. Yen Ta Fo () is a pink-coloured soup with noodles served in a broth seasoned with fermented and pungent red bean curd. Running for nine days, the vegetarian festival in Phuket is considered by many to be the most extreme and bizarre of festivals in Thailand. Weeks before the Vegetarian Festival events, yellow Chinese flags bloom on every roadside and intersection, especially near Chinese temples. Devotees not only adopt a special diet for the holiday, a select few participants prove their devotion by practicing self-mutilation. The Vegetarian Festival in Phuket is a unique spectacle that attracts thousands of visitors every year.There are no hard and fast rules for viewers except that you must not do anything that is a sign of disrespect to the belief and custom of the people.If possible, put on white clothes to blend in with the local community. 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. After arriving at Sapan Hin, there will be various performances such as martial arts demonstrations and music shows. From Thailand, it spread to other South and Southeast Asian countries. One of the most popular dishes served during the festival is noodles. Women in menstruation and pregnancy should not participate in the festival. The temple houses 2 historical images that are believed to bring good luck. 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. If you wish to use an image from our website with a link back to us, 17 Best Romantic Restaurants in Phuket , Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town (Kew Ong) , Shrine of the Serene Light in Phuket Town , Lim Hu Tai Su Shrine (Sam Kong Shrine) , 48 Best Things to Do in Phuket and Around in 2023, 11 Best Phuket Tours Day Trips and Excursions, 33 Best Hotels in Phuket We Tried and Loved. The festival culminates with a grand procession on the last day where participants carry decorative floats around town before returning to their temples for blessings from monks. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, is an invocation of blessings from the Emperor Gods of the Chinese community. Please get in touch using the quick form below: Our staff can also answer any questions you might have about Thailand. Tourists are advised to stay away from areas that observe this scary and deafening aspect of the celebrations. Celebrate one of the most famous and spectacular cultural events in Phuket. The festival culminates with an extravagant procession featuring elaborately decorated floats and participants dressed in white or yellow clothing carrying joss sticks and firecrackers. 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. In Phuket culture, this is considered the most important festival of all. Devotees dressed in traditional white, carrying incense and candles, await the arrival of their excellencies. How many days do you need and how to plan the best itinerary in Thailand? Phuket Weather What is the best month to visit Phuket? An important procession that draws thousands of devotees to send the Nine Emperor Gods back via waterways. Jui Tui Shrine is the main temple located in Phuket Old Town. 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. Tao Hu Phad Phed: Stir fried Tofu with chili past, Jee Jo (), a famous snack in Phuket, Look Chin Sarai Tod () Deep-fried crispy seaweed balls with sweet sauce, Tao Hu Song Kruang () steamed tofu sauteed in thick Chinese sauce with baby corns and carrots, Phuket Town A Walking Guide to Old Phuket Town, Songkran Festival Phuket 2023 April 13 to 15, 17 Questions People Always Ask about Phuket (and a couple of stupid ones). Cyclone Freddy has made landfall on Madagascar, leaving destruction in its wake. It takes place at the same time as the Hindu festival Navaratri.[1]. If you find yourself in Phuket around September or October, spend some time at a colourful and unique festival. Realistic vegetarian meats are used instead. What is the Difference between Laos & Thai Papaya Salad. Phuket's most famous and spectacular cultural event, the Vegetarian Festival takes place over nine days in the ninth lunar month, typically around September or October. Tourists can join in the lighting of candles and joss sticks before they are placed around the household gods. Vendors and proprietors of restaurants indicate that jeh food is for sale at their establishments by putting a yellow flag out with the word (jeh) written on it in red. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival attracts crowds of spectators because of many of the unusual religious rituals that are performed.[4][5]. The said food stalls will usually be located on Ranong Road, between the Jui Tui Shrine and Ranong market. While the origins of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival are unclear, it is commonly thought that it was brought to the island by a wandering Chinese opera group that fell ill from a malaria epidemic. Most devotees stay at the temple, eat vegetarian meals, maintain celibacy and recite continuous chanting of prayer. The ceremonies take place in the vicinity of 6 Chinese temples in Phuket. Below are some of them: There is this belief within the Chinese community that fire can repel evil influence and overcome impurity. A procession which draws scores of devotees sends the deities back home. The festival runs for nine days and is observed in other Asian countries as well. The Nine Emperor Gods Ji Hung Xng Jn / Ji Hung Da Di are the nine sons manifested by Father Emperor Zhou Yu Dou Fu Yuan Jun and Mother of the Big Dipper Dou Mu Yuan Jun who holds the Registrar of Life and Death. Liputan6dotcom. Presently, it is a public holiday in some of these countries. 31 Okt 2018, 09:02 WIB. It used to be 'the little hidden Chinese temple' tucked away at the end of a small path, right under your nose. For those looking for a more upscale experience, many of the areas top resorts offer special packages for guests attending the festival. Each day of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, processions start from one of the leading shrines around Phuket island. What to see at Phuket Vegetarian Festival? [9], During the festival, food stalls sell Thai and Chinese food made without animal products. There is a whole universe of special deals, offers and travel advice online. Curries are also a staple offering at the festival; these range from mild coconut milk-based curries like green curry to spicier varieties such as red curry or Massaman curry. 6.San-yuan Three Epochs 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. Please help this article by looking for better, more reliable sources. The Vegetarian Festival in Phuket typically lasts for nine days. It is a nine-day Taoist celebration starting on the eve of the ninth lunar month in the Chinese calendar. However, the two biggest processions are taken out from the Bang Neaw and Jui Tui shrines.Besides volume, the thing that sets Jui Tui apart is featuring women as Chinese Goddesses. Pchum Ben Cambodia Festival for the Ancestors, Pha That Luang - The Sparkling Golden Stupa in Vientiane, Phimeanakas Temple & the Legends of 9-headed Serpent, Phnom Bakheng - Chasing Sunset on the Sacred Hill of Gods, Phnom Kulen - Lost World Inside the National Park, Phu Quoc Sandbox: Vietnam first initiative to reopen tourism. However, what sets this festival apart is its bizarre and extreme form of festivities. 8.Pa-hsien Eight Immortals. 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. During the ritual, devotees will wait in the streets of Phuket town to send God Kiu Ong off to heaven. The dates change every year, as it's based on the Chinese lunar calendar. There are many different types of dishes available ranging from stir fries to curries all made without any animal products whatsoever even fish sauce. The most famous of these is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, held annually in October or November. Its a celebration of Chinese culture with an emphasis on vegan cuisine, street processions, and other religious rituals. 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. My dream has been growing bigger and bigger day after day, and I do not miss a chance to make it real. The belief is that by abstaining from these types of food, participants will obtain good health and peace of mind. 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. These participants self-mutilations have become much more daring and spectacular with each passing year. Soups are another common dish served during the festival; they often contain vegetables, herbs, and spices simmered together in a flavorful broth base. [6] The royal ploughing ceremony, called Lehtun Mingala, or Mingala Ledaw, was also practiced in pre-colonial Burma until 1885 when the monarchy was abolished. What is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2022? All of the then medicine failed to cure them so they unanimously decided to adopt a strict vegetarian diet. 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. Since a little girl, I was always dreaming of exploring the far-away lands, the unseen beauty spots of the world. 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. Pregnant women should not attend or watch any of the rituals. 15 Islands Near Phuket Phuket Island Hopping, Jade Emperor and Nine Emperor Gods Welcoming Ritual, The Pilgrims Name Reading Ritual in The Sacred Hall, The Birth and Death of Humans Gods Welcoming Ritual, Big Dipper Astrolatry: Seven Star Worshipping Ritual, Jade Emperor and Nine Emperor Gods Retreating Ritual, Wear white clothes during the whole festival, Do not eat meat or animal products (milk, eggs, etc. Keep yourself clean throughout the festival. The ninth day of the festival is its climax. 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