From luxurious resorts and hotels to budget-friendly hostels and guesthouses, visitors can find something that fits their needs and budget. They believe that adopting a vegetarian diet and paying homage to the nine Gods wards off the evil spirits. 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. During the festival, ma song are treated with reverence and respect, and are seen as spiritual leaders and guides. 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. 7.Tien-shih Come and experience the joy of Thailands Phuket Vegetarian Festival! Popular folk culture has it that the Nine Emperor Gods are actually loyalists of the Ming dynasty who fought against Qing dynasty. A carnival-like atmosphere pervades the temple throughout the nine-day festival. The most happening of all is the last day that marks the end of this festival. As mentioned earlier, there are over 40 Chinese Shrines in Phuket and all of them participate in the festival. Liputan6dotcom. This send-off ritual starts at 10:30 in the evening of the last day. The ceremonies take place in the vicinity of 6 Chinese temples in Phuket. The capital of Phuket province, Old Town is a place steeped in history. 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. These events usually take place at temples throughout Phuket but some may also be seen in public areas like beaches or parks depending on where they are being held that year. Here are our recommendation for your accommodation: Below is the Youtube video about Phuket Vegetarian Festival if you want to go further. In pre-modern times, Magha Puja has been celebrated by some Southeast Asian communities. The 2022 Phuket Vegetarian Festival (aka Nine Emperor Gods Festival) will take place from 25 September - 5 October 2022. This procession symbolizes the purification of the body and soul before entering into a period of abstinence from meat consumption during the festival days. Weeks before the Vegetarian Festival events, yellow Chinese flags bloom on every roadside and intersection, especially near Chinese temples. Ma song are typically chosen by the community and undergo a rigorous selection process. There are participants who-as a medium of God- indulge in the act of self-mutilation. The peculiarity of this festival lies in its extreme celebrations that include body piercing, fire walking, climbing tall leaders of sharp blades, throwing firecrackers on the devotees etc. Phuket Vegetarian Festival is the most popular in town for a reason. 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. 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. Khanom Jeen Jay () thin cold rice noodles served with a curry sauce and with tofu and mushrooms. Eventually, the festival has grown into a spectacle and is celebrated yearly in Phuket. Although it may be referred to as Vegetarian Festival, the food sold and consumed is vegan. Phuket Sandbox reopening plan & What to Expect? Did you know this program is available ON-Demand by visiting the Science in Action Page, it will be available until Thursday the 2nd of March.It will also be broadcast on Sunday the 26th of February in Phuket at 9:00 AM on 91.5 FM and 102.5 FM and Online via the Internet radio portals. Firewalking ceremonies can be seen where devotees walk across burning charcoal without being burned and spirit mediums perform rituals on stage. The devotees wear bright and very ornamented outfits, and then you are set for a full week of firecrackers, parades, piercings, and vegetarian food. [6] Vegan food is prepared because it is considered the most pure. Vegetarian Festival Phuket 4.5 37 #16 of 38 things to do in Patong Cultural Events Visit website Write a review About Celebrated over 9 days in October, this Chinese festival dictates a strict vegetarian diet and period of abstinence whilst locals pray to the Nine Emperor Gods. The ceremonies of the Vegetarian Festival take place in six Chinese temples scattered throughout Phuket, Thailand. 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. [9], During the festival, food stalls sell Thai and Chinese food made without animal products. Refrain from sexual activities during the festival. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival. So why not drop me a line today and start planning your dream Thai adventure! Visit the empty Angkor Wat? Also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, the festival is celebrated by Daoists throughout Thailand in areas with large populations of . I run Phuket101.net and manage large international online travel guides. Sumber foto: AFP. Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2023 | Tickets Dates & Venues - CarniFest.com Festival Phuket Street Parade Thailand Traditional Events Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2023 Where: Phuket, Thailand When: Friday, October 13, 2023 - Sunday, October 22, 2023 Add Comment Photo: www.tourismthailand.org Its crunchy, flavorful, and filling, and its quite affordable at three pieces for only 20 THB. 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. Thailands many festivals are always a marvel and something everyone should experience at least once. Like it or hate it but you can certainly not remain indifferent to it. It has been proposed in Thailand as a more spiritual alternative to the celebration of Valentine's Day. 8.Pa-hsien Eight Immortals. You can see these everywhere from Chiang Mai to Bangkok to Thailand's many islands. OC VEGAN FEST @ THE DEN DTSA - JUNE 25, 2022. 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. Sat, Jul 2, 11:00 AM. Exercise self-control and behave in a respectful manner both physically and mentally. 31. San Diego's biggest vegan festival is held at Encinitas' own outdoor bazaar. Thursday, September 27, 2012. Stages, decorations and parade accessories gather near shrines, and hundreds of food stands are erected nearby. 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. In 2021 the festival was 5 - 15 October. Tourists can look for yellow-coloured flags with red Thai or Chinese characters to find the stall selling these vegetarian dishes. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is commonly celebrated from late September to October and the exact dates can change depending on the lunar calendar of the Chinese. In addition to eating pure food, festival participants must keep their thoughts pure and wear white as a symbol of purity. History of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. The festival is becoming more eventful year after year. It usually takes place during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, which falls between September and October. According to Long Hua, this information is inaccurate and considered derogatory to the actual teachings of Taoism as the Nine Emperor Gods are actually high-ranking Star Lords who preside over the movement of planets and coordinate mortal Life and Death issues. 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. During the main ritual at the temples, the Ma Song fall into a trance and pierce their cheeks with ritual objects, including knives, spears, relics, and other items of personal significance. One member of the opera group was then sent back to China to call on the Kiu Ong lah or the Nine Emperor Gods. Soybean and protein substitute products are used to replace pork, chicken or fish they even look and taste exactly like meat. The festival always starts on the first day of the 9th Chinese lunar month (though the pole-raising ceremony is the night before). [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). Yellow chinese flags are put up in the entire city. These include invoking the gods through different self-mutilating acts such as body piercing and fire walking. Where to celebrate Loy Krathong Festival in Phuket? The Vegetarian Festival in Phuket typically lasts for nine days. The 2022 Phuket Vegetarian Festival (aka Nine Emperor Gods Festival) is taking place from 25 September - 5 October 2022. Buddhist Lent Day (Thailand Wan Khao Phansa, Laos Boun Khao Phansa) is the start of the three-month period during the rainy season when monks are required to remain in a particular place such as a monastery or temple grounds. The ninth day of the festival is its climax. if(typeof(Boxzilla)!='undefined') {Boxzilla.on('box.show', function(box) { jQuery(".boxzilla input#btnNewsletterJoinUs").bind( "click", p1subscriber_handler ); });} }}); Jui Tui Shrine (Kew Ong) is one of the oldest and most important on Phuket Island. Now lets take a look at accommodation options for your stay in Thailand. During this time, devotees observe a strict vegetarian diet and take part in various religious ceremonies to honor the Nine Emperor Gods. Those in a state of mourning should not participate in the festival. Injuries during the festival, though, are mostly caused by the firecrackers being indiscriminately used by the festival participants. The popularity of this fantastic island comes from the incredibly vast range of attractions, activities and tours, from fabulous beaches and natural wo jQuery(document).ready(function() { if (typeof(p1subscriber_handler)=="function") { What is the vegetarian festival in Thailand? Unreliable citations may be challenged or deleted. WARNING! Phuket is renowned for its vibrant and colourful festivals. Angkor Wats Art: The Praise of Cambodia Stone Carvings. The annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival takes place during the 9th Lunar Month of the chinese calendar. 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. As humans attempt purification using fire, they are actually overcoming their yin and making amends for their sins. The dates change every year, as it's based on the Chinese lunar calendar. Men and women puncture their cheeks with sharp items, including knives and skewers. 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Participants believe that their household gods will be benefiting from the yearly infusion of spiritual power from the temples. After ceremonially crossing the bridge, a red stamp of the gods is then placed on the back of participants to show they are already free from calamities and sin. Pattaya's Wan Lai Festival: How to survive the CRAZY Songkran water fight? Consider before continuing. There are two terminals in the airport; Terminal 1 is used for international flights while Terminal 2 is used for domestic flights. It was also reported that Chinese temples in Hat Yai stockpiled vegetarian food in advance of the festival and hired more people. During this week, everyone follows ten principles, mostly wear white, do not eat meat, drink alcohol, do not have sexual activities, etc. ), Do not eat food with a strong smell (garlic), Keep and wash cooking utensils separately from those used in the event. Incense and candles are lit at the Chinese temple, while down by the river a Chinese Opera is performed each night of the festival around 6pm. It is celebrated throughout the entire country, but the festivities are at their height in Phuket, where over the half of the population is Peranakans. 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. In the past, monks were not even allowed to leave the temple, but today, most monks just refrain from traveling during this period. 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). My name is Jolie, I am a Vietnamese girl growing up in the countryside of Hai Duong, northern Vietnam. Teams of people accompany the masong to keep their wounds clean and to help support the heavier piercings. Though its not well known as Lim Hu Tai Su is a Chinese Taoist shrine on the north side of Phuket Town, also known as Sam Kong Shrine, for the neighbourhood its found in. To have the best shot of the most gruesome actions on the street, we recommend booking your accommodation in the center of Phuket. Note that most non-vegetarian restaurants in Phuket Town will close for a week, but the restaurants in all beach resorts will operate normally, so dont worry too much. Many temples also host vegetarian feasts where visitors can enjoy traditional Thai dishes made with vegetables, tofu, mushrooms, nuts, and fruits instead of meat or fish. Our local guides are available to help with any questions you have about planning your trip to Thailand. During this time, there are many food offerings available for visitors to enjoy without having to worry about consuming any animal products. What to see at Phuket Vegetarian Festival? 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. One example of a popular vegetarian snack is the vegetarian spring roll. It is believed that there will be rain throughout the nine days of the celebration. These dishes also use protein substitutes such as soybeans which makes them almost impossible to distinguish from local dishes. Segregate your utensils from those who are not participating. Chiang Mai is already packed with vegan and vegetarian restaurants, but for Vegetarian Festival, the city takes things to another level. It is a nine-day Taoist celebration starting on the eve of the ninth lunar month in the Chinese calendar. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a nine-day Taoist celebration beginning on the eve of 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, meaning late September or October. 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. Vendors and restaurants all over Thailand participate by switching to "jay" food, using yellow flags with red Thai or Chinese characters to signal their participation. According To Priest Long Hua, the 35th Generation Leader of Long Shan Men Taoist Sect (Singapore), honouring the Northern Dipper stars prolongs one's life, eliminate calamities, and absolves sins and past debts of oneself and his family. An important procession that draws thousands of devotees to send the Nine Emperor Gods back via waterways. Why do Phuketians celebrate it? It is mostly celebrated in South-Eastern Asian countries but particularly in Thailand. What is the Phuket vegetarian festival all about? Please help this article by looking for better, more reliable sources. For the next few days, the local Chinese/Thai community brings their household gods to the temple, along with offerings of food and drink. 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. Tourists can join in the lighting of candles and joss sticks before they are placed around the household gods. Once, we even saw a full collection of fake sushi, all made of rice and tofu! A carnival-like atmosphere pervades the temple throughout the nine-day festival. Super Ekstrem, Festival Vegetarian di Thailand Bikin Merinding. 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