The festival was meant to honour the gods and express the people's happiness at surviving what was, in the 19th century, a fatal illness. It's a celebration of Chinese culture with an emphasis on vegan cuisine, street processions, and other religious rituals. 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! On the last day, devotees from all the Chinese shrines assemble in Phuket town and walk towards the Saphan Hin. Second: the walking is more of a jump as fast as you can above the charcoal, so with the lack of light, taking sharp images is difficult, so get ready to freeze the moment with a well-calibrated flash (too much flash would kill the atmosphere). How many days do you need and how to plan the best itinerary in Thailand? Technically, people who are in mourning are not supposed to attend the ceremonies in temples. Apparently, traveling monks were crossing through fields, thus destroying the crops of villagers and farmers. Basic Thai Phrases: Learn the Basics for Your Holiday! When it comes to finding a place to stay during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, there are plenty of options available. It has been proposed in Thailand as a more spiritual alternative to the celebration of Valentine's Day. Most of them sell noodles, sushi, tofu shaped like meat and other fast foods. The role of ma song at the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a unique and intriguing aspect of the event, and their participation in the spiritual rituals adds an extra layer of cultural significance and tradition to the festival. 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As stated in the previous section of this guide, The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is commonly celebrated from late September to October and this can change based on the lunar calendar of the Chinese. 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. Close to the tail end of September and budding October, the ninth Chinese lunar month is when Phuket Vegetarian Festival is celebrated. The festival features more than 40 vendors, many of whom are local to the San Diego and LA areas. As such, tourists who want to take advantage of this festival are advised to visit or stay near the oldest and major Chinese shrines on the island which includes: This shrine has been around for 100 years and it has been renovated a couple of times. Many tourists come from Malaysia. Masong are the people who invite the spirits of gods to possess their bodies. 1.Yu-huang -The Jade Emperor This was to ensure the purification of the mind and body. This is because while the most spectacular activities are conducted on Phuket Island, the entire country observes the said festival as well. The festival begins with a parade from each participating temple around the city center. The annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket always starts off at the Jui Tsui Chinese Shrine in Phuket Town when the Chinese spirits and gods come down to participate in the 10 day festival. The ninth day of the festival is its climax. 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. Legend has it a 19 th century Chinese opera group fell sick when touring Phuket. On their arrival, the entire band got inflicted with a deadly Malaria pandemic. Chiang Mai is already packed with vegan and vegetarian restaurants, but for Vegetarian Festival, the city takes things to another level. These can be found in various forms such as stir-fried or soup-based dishes with vegetables, mushrooms, tofu, and other plant-based ingredients. The dates change every year, as it's based on the Chinese lunar calendar. The shrine is located in the subdistrict of Kathu in the islands interior, between Phuket Town and Patong Beach. It always has been my favourite Phuket event / festival and I always used to take too many photos! 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. Those photos are easy to take, follow and enjoy the parade. Since then, the people of Phuket have continued to celebrate the festival. Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Setiap manusia pasti memiliki kelebihan masing-masing yang membuat mereka menjadi unik. 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. Also to maintain purity devout festival participants abstain from sex, alcohol and stimulants during the festival. Phuket is renowned for its vibrant and colourful festivals. A carnival-like atmosphere pervades the temple throughout the nine-day festival. They believe that they will be protected by the Chinese gods and that these injuries should leave no scars and cause little to no bleeding. Celebrations typically include preliminary music and dance performances, competitive processions of floats, dancers and musicians on the second day, and culminating on the third day in competitive firings of home-made rockets. Look for yellow flags with red Chinese or Thai characters to find vegetarian food stalls. According to an early-nineteenth-century interpretation of Chinese Taoism by a local community of Chinese immigrant miners, the Nine Emperor Gods descend from poles located in the shrines yards and incarnate by using the bodies of the participants as shells for walking on Earth. Locally referred to as the Kin Jay Festival, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a festival of the Nine Emperor Gods festival in Phuket. Get ready to wait and feel the heat for an hour or so: you have to save a place near the burning charcoal early not to have anyone in front of you, which means sweating for at least an hour. I also love exploring the many ancient ruins and historical sites throughout Thailand. People gathering around an am from early morning to witness piercing ceremony and to participate in the parade afterwards, Masong are getting ready to participate in the morning parade starting from one of the am in Western Phuket, Masong pending to have his cheeks pierced, Piercing is supervised by medical staff and performed using special instruments. Buses from the Southern Bus Terminal of Bangkok to Phuket are the most reliable and convenient way of travelling between the two cities and take up to 13 hours to reach Phuket. How many days do you need and how to plan the best itinerary in Laos? According to tradition and belief, the purpose of the vegetarian festival is for participants to obtain peace of mind and good health. The history of this festival may be a bit unclear but it is commonly believed to have been brought by a Chinese opera group that got hit by the Malaria epidemic of the time. The Royal Ploughing Ceremony (Khmer: Preah Reach Pithi Chrot Preah Neangkol; Sinhala: Vap Magula; Thai: Phra Ratcha Phithi Charot Phra Nangkhan Raek Na Khwan) also known as The Ploughing Festival is an ancient royal rite held in many Asian countries to mark the traditional beginning of the rice growing season. The opera group made a complete recovery and the epidemic ceased. 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. Perbesar. Noodle dishes, curries and soups are prepared without meat, fish sauce, eggs or dairy. The Nine Emperor Gods Festival (Chinese: ; Malay: Perayaan Sembilan Maharaja Dewa; Thai: ) or Vegetarian Festival or Jay Festival is a nine-day Taoist celebration beginning on the eve of the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, celebrated primarily in Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand by the Peranakans (not the entire Overseas Chinese community). There are also special ceremonies held at local temples where people can make offerings to Buddha statues or take part in religious rituals such as fire walking or piercing themselves with metal rods without feeling any pain. These dishes also use protein substitutes such as soybeans which makes them almost impossible to distinguish from local dishes. It is a good idea to stay well away from this deafening and sometimes frightening aspect of the Vegetarian Festival. Therefore, it is important to come mentally prepared. Women in menstruation and pregnancy should not participate in the festival. These rules are a must-follow for anyone who participates in the festival. 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. Devotees and participants see this ceremony as cleansing of their past impurities and a fresh start in life. Stages, decorations and parade accessories gather near shrines, and hundreds of food stands are erected nearby. The annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival takes place during the 9th Lunar Month of the chinese calendar. Cindy quit her 9 to 5 job to pursue her passion for exploring mesmerizing locations in Thailand. During this time, devotees observe a strict vegetarian diet and take part in various religious ceremonies to honor the Nine Emperor Gods. Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a colorful annual festival held in September or October in China.The festival is celebrated because of the Chinese community's . You will still see them out during the day. 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. Reopening Thailand: Everything you need to know when traveling during covid, Songkran in Bangkok - Sacred Tradition Vs. Crazy Water Fight. 125 N Broadway Santa Ana, CA. However, what sets this festival apart is its bizarre and extreme form of festivities. The festival dates use the Lunar Calendar, and the festival's exact dates change every year, so if you plan to travel to Tha Rua Shrine is one of the oldest Chinese shrines in Phuket, found in Thalang District on Thepkasattri Road about 800m south of the Heroines Monument. Established in 1904, this shrine boasts dragon pillars and colourful paintings of stories and creatures believed to bring good luck and prosperity to devotees. The participants who prepare to volunteer their bodies to the gods are called the Ma Song. Loy Krathong in Bangkok - Where to have the best celebration? Participants wear white clothing to signify purity while taking part in rituals such as fire-walking and body piercing with metal rods or blades. Visit the empty Angkor Wat? Women experiencing their menstrual cycle should not attend the rituals. Unlike other festivals and celebrations, this festival involves a lot of gory scenes besides fireworks and fancy attires. I run Phuket101.net and manage large international online travel guides. 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. Long Beach Vegan Festival VIP Pass. Alternatively, simply look for the yellow flags which indicate that a food stall or restaurant is participating in Vegetarian Festival these can be found all around the city, even at 7-Eleven. Phone: 088 169 2595. It is celebrated annually during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, usually falling between late September and early October. Unreliable citations may be challenged or deleted. The rituals, which last for nine days, are performed to purify both body and mind. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a colorful annual event held on the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, usually in September or October. During this time, locals take part in parades, street processions, temple ceremonies, and food offerings to honor their ancestors. These packages often include discounts on accommodations as well as access to exclusive events such as cooking classes or traditional ceremonies. Save Long Beach Vegan Festival VIP Pass to your collection. To really see the festival at its best, you'll want to go there. Not all those hotels are historical, but they have a style that fits the event atmosphere. A few of the major shrines in Phuket for witnessing ceremonies include: The festivities move between various temples throughout the celebration; picking up a schedule of events will help you be in the right place at the right time. The festival is associated with some ceremonies that are considered brutal and gruesome. One of the most popular dishes served during the festival is noodles. What is the Phuket vegetarian festival all about? It is celebrated by the religious devotees to honor the Gods and express gratitude to them for saving the peoples lives and granting them good health. Our local guides are available to help with any questions you have about planning your trip to Thailand. Pattaya's Wan Lai Festival: How to survive the CRAZY Songkran water fight? It is definitely a little less touristy part of Thailand but nevertheless, they host amazing new year eve parties with bands, DJs, and awesome live music. Visitors from all over Thailand come to witness this unique event which has been celebrated since 1825. There are different stories behind how the Phuket Vegetarian Festival began, however the most widely accepted is the China Opera troupe Story. Although the Vegetarian Festival can seem like a bizarre carnival, it is still a deeply religious event; show respect and stay out of the way! From Thailand, it spread to other South and Southeast Asian countries. Devotees dressed in traditional white, carrying incense and candles, await the arrival of their excellencies. Segregate your utensils from those who are not participating. The festival culminates with an extravagant procession featuring elaborately decorated floats and participants dressed in white or yellow clothing carrying joss sticks and firecrackers. Yen Ta Fo () is a pink-coloured soup with noodles served in a broth seasoned with fermented and pungent red bean curd. WHAT MORE? The Nine Emperor Gods. For other festivals, see, Nine Emperor Gods Festival celebration in popular folk culture. From exploring stunning beaches to taking part in unique cultural activities, there is something for everyone. Super Ekstrem, Festival Vegetarian di Thailand Bikin Merinding. 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. 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. Either are you wondering about best time to visit, visa policy, or how to get the cheapest flight, we have your back! Eventually, the festival has grown into a spectacle and is celebrated yearly in Phuket. It was also reported that Chinese temples in Hat Yai stockpiled vegetarian food in advance of the festival and hired more people. In Phuket culture, this is considered the most important festival of all. Its a place of worship for the local Chinese-Thai community and it plays an important role as the site of the final farewell to the gods during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival Hok Nguan Kong Shrine is a Chinese temple near the Surin Clock Circle in Phuket Town. 31 Okt 2018, 09:02 WIB. 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. Many of these establishments feature amenities such as free Wi-Fi, air conditioning units, swimming pools, fitness centers, and restaurants where you can enjoy delicious local cuisine without breaking your budget. The festival celebrates the Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. Popular folk culture has it that the Nine Emperor Gods are actually loyalists of the Ming dynasty who fought against Qing dynasty. During the festival, ma song can be seen participating in a variety of rituals, such as piercing their cheeks with needles or swords, walking on hot coals, or climbing ladders made of sharp blades. Angkor Wat Tours - How to See the City of Temples without the Crowds? If in doubt, just go toward the noise and chaos! The town has a number of major Chinese Shrines and a lot of the restaurants replace their menus during the festivities to only do vegetarian dishes. Jui Tui Shrine is the main temple located in Phuket Old Town. Local participants and sponsors use the occasion to enhance their social prestige, as is customary in traditional Buddhist folk festivals throughout Southeast Asia. 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