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The Vegetarian Festival started about 150 years ago in the Kathu
district, where the majority of the Chinese tin mine workers were
settled in Phuket. They formed such a large portion of the community
that a group of Chinese opera performers were hired to entertain
them and their families. During the Chinese ninth lunar month,
Phuket was hit with an epidemic of a fatal disease and the loss
of many lives. The Chinese performers were also falling ill.
Eventually, they realised they had forgotten to pay homage to
the Nine Emperor Gods (Kiu Ong Iah) in the first nine days of
the month. Thus, one of the performers was sent to China to invite
the Kiu Ong Iah to Phuket.
The next year the Chinese followed the tradition of refraining
from eating meat, drinking alcoholic drinks, engaging in sex,
quarreling, telling lies or killing. The epidemic ceased, and,
every year since, the people of Phuket have continued to celebrate
the festival.
Visitors are perhaps most impressed with the spectacle of people,
ostensibly possessing by gods, piercing their tongues, cheeks,
and other parts of the anatomy with sharp implements. Adepts apparently
feel no pain, and show little no sign of real injury.
READ About
the Festival today - See the photos of the latest Vegetarian
Festival
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