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A colourful event held over a nine day period in late September/early
October, this celebrates the Chinese community's belief that abstinence
from meat and various stimulants during the ninth lunar month of
the Chinese calendar will help them obtain good health and peace
of mind.
Though the origins of the festival are unclear, it is thought that
perhaps the festival was bought to Phuket by a wandering Chinese
opera group who fell ill with malaria while performing on the island.
They decided to adhere to a strict vegetarian diet and pray to the
Nine Emperor Gods who would ensure purification of the mind and
body. On recovery, the people celebrated by holding a festival that
was meant to honour the gods as well as express the people's happiness
at surviving what was, in the nineteenth century, a fatal illness.
The festival always falls on the first days of the
ninth Chinese lunar month, and for nine days participants observe
the following commitments:
- Cleanliness of the body during the festival
- Clean kitchen utensils not to be used by others who do not
participate in the festival
- Wear white during the festival
- Behave physically and mentally
- Avoid eating meat
- Avoid sex
- Avoid alcohol
- People in mourning should not participate
- Pregnant women and menstruating women should not attend ceremonies
One of the most exciting aspects of the festival is the various,
(and sometimes gruesome) ceremonies which are held to invoke the
gods. Firewalking, body piercing and other acts of self mortification
undertaken by participants acting as mediums of the gods, have become
more spectacular and daring as each year goes by. Men and women
puncture their cheeks with various items including knives, skewers
and other household items. It is believed that the Chinese gods
will protect such persons from harm, and little blood or scarring
results from such mutilation acts. This is definitely not recommended
for the feint hearted to witness.
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The ceremonies of the festival take place in the vicinity of the
six Chinese temples scattered throughout Phuket. The main temple
is Jui Tui Shrine not far from the Fresh Market in Phuket Town.
The first event is the raising of the Lantern Pole, an act that
notifies the nine Chinese gods that the festival is about to begin.
The pole is at least ten metres tall and once erected, celebrants
believe that the Hindu god, Shiva, descends bringing spiritual power
to the event.
For the next few days, the local Chinese/Thai community brings
their household gods to the temple, along with offerings of food
and drink. It is assumed that the household gods will benefit from
an annual injection of spiritual energy that fills the temple. Visitors
can observe and even participate in the lighting of joss sticks
and candles that are placed around the various gods.
Usually street processions take place, where visitors can see participants
walking in a trance. Other events include hundreds of local residents
running across a bed of burning coals, or climbing an eight metre
ladder of sharp blades while in trance.
Apart from the visual spectacle of this festival,
visitors can partake in specially prepared vegetarian cuisine made
available at street stalls and markets around the island during
this time. The vegetarian dishes are not easily distinguished from
regular dishes - soybean and protein substitute products are used
to replace meat in standard Thai fare and look and taste uncannily
like meat. Look for the yellow flags with red Chinese or Thai characters
to find vegetarian food stalls - and keep your camera handy!!
Extreme Eating during Phuket Vegetarian Festival 
Most of us have heard of extreme sports of some kind, be it zorbing
downhill or extreme ironing under the ocean waves. In countries
like Thailand, some of the ancient festivals held here, could almost
be slotted into an extreme form of celebration. Read
the whole story...
For more information on dates and events, contact the Tourism
Authority of Thailand at +66 (0)7 621 2213. |
