The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a yearly event that is usually celebrated on the Chinese Calendars ninth lunar month falling somewhere between the months of September and October. When is Tet Vietnam - Should you travel during Vietnamese lunar new year? Most devotees stay at the temple, eat vegetarian meals, maintain celibacy and recite continuous chanting of prayer. Its a world away from the urbanised jungles of Phuket. Save Long Beach Vegan Festival VIP Pass to your collection. It's a celebration of Chinese culture with an emphasis on vegan cuisine, street processions, and other religious rituals. It is believed that long ago, a famous Chinese Opera band visited the island to perform for the Chinese inhabitants of Phuket. WHAT MORE? I run Phuket101.net and manage large international online travel guides. In addition, there are tons of food stores and street stalls that will sell vegetarian snacks and foods. 855 Elm Ave Long Beach, CA. 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. As with any religious festival, enjoy watching, but keep your distance. Anything goes; the weirder, the better. The most happening of all is the last day that marks the end of this festival. Though not as well known by visitors as larger Chinese shrines like Jui Tui Shrine in Phukets Old Town area, Sam Kong Shrine is a revered place Sam Sae Chu Hut Chinese Shrine is a modest and discreet Chinese shrine located near the intersection of Khaw Sim Bee Road and Mae Luan Road, on the way up to Khao Rang Hill in Phuket Town; opened in May 2002. 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. With our guide, you can find all the best places to stay, eat and enjoy your holiday with ease. One of the performers was sent to China to invite the Nine Emperor Gods (known as the Kiu Ong Iah) to Phuket. The main temple is Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town. It used to be 'the little hidden Chinese temple' tucked away at the end of a small path, right under your nose. Although it may be referred to as Vegetarian Festival, the food sold and consumed is vegan. 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. During this festival, participants observe a strict vegetarian diet for nine days as part of their spiritual journey. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a unique and exciting experience that will leave you with lasting memories. 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. 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. Other locations around Phuket also host their own festivities during this time including street markets selling vegetarian food items as well as traditional Thai snacks like grilled bananas or sweet sticky rice cakes filled with coconut milk and sugar. Tourists are invited to attend the procession and take photographs. OC VEGAN FEST @ THE DEN DTSA - JUNE 25, 2022. The festival runs for nine days and is observed in other Asian countries as well. The best place to grab some vegan dishes is Warorot Market, Chiang Mais oldest market. It's believed that the Chinese gods will protect them from harm, resulting in little blood or scarring. Those in a state of mourning should not participate in the festival. 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. Phuket Weather What is the best month to visit Phuket? 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. 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. I also love exploring the many ancient ruins and historical sites throughout Thailand. How many days do you need and how to plan the best itinerary in Vietnam? These rituals are seen as acts of spiritual devotion and self-mortification, and are believed to bring good fortune and blessings to the community. 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. A land of staggering natural beauty and cultural complexities, of dynamic megacities and hill-tribe villages, Vietnam is both exotic and compelling. It is assumed that the household gods will benefit from an annual injection of spiritual energy that fills the temple. This ceremony is usually calm and quiet.However, you can see a lot of buzz later in the week during the parades. 1.Yu-huang -The Jade Emperor Discover a different side of Thailand this year book your trip today! Yen Ta Fo () is a pink-coloured soup with noodles served in a broth seasoned with fermented and pungent red bean curd. This is Phuket's most famous and spectacular festival. 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. During a period of nine days, those who are participating in the festival dress all in white and ghin jeh , which has come to be translated as abstinence from eating meat, poultry, seafood, and dairy products. 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. This festival can trace its origins to the belief of the Chinese community that abstaining from various stimulants and meat products can help in obtaining peace of mind and good health. Some of the feats performed include piercing cheeks with swords, walking on nails or hot coals, and climbing ladders made of knife blades! All of the then medicine failed to cure them so they unanimously decided to adopt a strict vegetarian diet. The first event is called the Raising of the Lantern Pole, which notifies the 9 Chinese gods of the start of the festival. Shops in Phuket and throughout Thailand display red and yellow jay flags to indicate they are serving appropriate vegan food for observant participants. It attracts thousands of tourists annually with most visitors coming from other Asian destinations, especially from China. 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. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival attracts crowds of spectators because of many of the unusual religious rituals that are performed. Otherwise it can land you in a mess. The festival runs for nine days and is observed in other Asian countries as well. It always has been my favourite Phuket event / festival and I always used [] "Vegetarian Festival" redirects here. Devotees come out in bright traditional Chinese costumes and carry their household Gods to the big temples. The rituals, which last for nine days, are performed to purify both body and mind. The festival begins by the raising of a 10-meter-tall bamboo pole in all Chinese shrines across the island. 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. My name is Jolie, I am a Vietnamese girl growing up in the countryside of Hai Duong, northern Vietnam. When is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival? There are participants who-as a medium of God- indulge in the act of self-mutilation. Angkor Wats Art: The Praise of Cambodia Stone Carvings. 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. 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. Reopening Thailand: Everything you need to know when traveling during covid, Songkran in Bangkok - Sacred Tradition Vs. Crazy Water Fight. Ma is the word for horse in Thai, and the name masong refers to how the spirits of the gods use the bodies of these people as a vehicle, as one rides a horse. 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 said acts are accomplished by select participants who serve as the gods mediums. The same applies to women who are pregnant or menstruating. This procession symbolizes the purification of the body and soul before entering into a period of abstinence from meat consumption during the festival days. Angkor Wat Tours - How to See the City of Temples without the Crowds? The malaria-stricken Chinese opera group recovered from their illness and since then, the inhabitants of Phuket continue the festivals celebration. [6] On the day, Buddhists celebrate the creation of an ideal and exemplary community, which is why it is sometimes called Sagha Day, the Sagha referring to the Buddhist community, and for some Buddhist schools this is specifically the monastic community. Fireworks are stopped at all the establishments and thrown at the devotees. Only pure, unmarried men or women without families of their own can become masong. Teams of people accompany the masong to keep their wounds clean and to help support the heavier piercings. It offers a unique opportunity to explore Thai culture and cuisine in an exciting way. The Chinese followed the tradition of refraining from eating meat, drinking alcoholic drinks, engaging in sex, quarrelling, telling lies or killing. 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. As such, tourists who want to experience the full-on spectacle of the festival should proceed to Phuket Island. San Diego's biggest vegan festival is held at Encinitas' own outdoor bazaar. WARNING! To really see the festival at its best, you'll want to go there. The whole event is usually heavily sponsored. Its a celebration of Chinese culture with an emphasis on vegan cuisine, street processions, and other religious rituals. Many of these vegetarian dishes aren't easily distinguishable from regular Thai dishes. However, Dou Fu Yuan Jun is invoked alongside Dou Mu Yuan Jun in Great Dipper Honouring known as Li Dou ceremonies. 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. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival could be Thailand's answer to the Tamil festival of Thaipusam celebrated in neighboring Malaysia. Realistic vegetarian meats are used instead. It is believed that there will be rain throughout the nine days of celebration. Many temples throughout Phuket host special events such as lion dances, puppet shows, kite flying competitions, and food stalls selling vegetarian dishes prepared according to Buddhist principles (no meat or eggs). All Rights Reserved. I'm a lover of all things adventurous with a particular passion for scuba diving and exploring Thailand's beautiful islands and beaches. 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 . The annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival takes place during the 9th Lunar Month of the chinese calendar. The Chinese observe the tradition of abstaining from telling lies, quarrelling, having sex, drinking alcohol, and eating meat. From Thailand, it spread to other South and Southeast Asian countries. We recommend the following websites and resources to help in planning your perfect trip to Thailand. As such, tourists who fancy eating meat dishes such as steaks or grilled meats wont really be deprived of their protein source during the festivities. 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. The five most popular festivals in Thailand are the Songkran or Water Festival and the Loi Krathong Festival or the Festival of Lights, the Yi Peng Festival, the Magha Puja, and Visakha Bucha, or the Buddhas Birthday. Inland Empire IE Vegan Sundays. Best Family Resorts in Bang Tao and Laguna Phuket, Cannabis in Thailand: What You Need to Know, Thailand Health Advice: Be Safe and Healthy During Your Trip, How to Catch the Sunrise at Phu Chi Fah, Chiang Rai, Celebrate Loy Krathong in Thailand: A Guide for Tourists, How to Rent a Yacht in Phuket: A Step-by-Step Guide, Hiking in Thailand: Discovering the Epic Natural Beauty of Thailand. An annual event, the vegetarian festival is a misnomer and is primarily celebrated by the Chinese communities in Thailand.It goes on for nine days and is considered to be one of the most bizarre and extreme festivals in the country. The masong tradition which is similar to Tng-ki also exist among the Chinese communities in Singapore and Malaysia during this festival. [2] The term Ye () as in Jiu Huang Ye () loosely translates as "Grandfather", a title worshipers commonly use to bring a more intimate relationship between themselves and the Nine Emperors. 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. The Nine Emperor Gods should not be mixed up with the Wang Ye or Princes of the Ming rebels. Tourists can look for yellow-coloured flags with red Thai or Chinese characters to find the stall selling these vegetarian dishes. So why not drop me a line today and start planning your dream Thai adventure! Dr. Schneider was depicted on his research site in a National Geographic documentation by Morgan Freeman.[14]. 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! In 2021 the festival was 5 - 15 October. All acts of Sexual intercourse must be avoided during the festival. The ninth day of the festival is its climax. 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. We post the unavoidable piercing photos everyone has already seen or shot themselves here. After catching wind of this, Buddha decided that in order to avoid damaging crops, hurting insects, or harming themselves during the rainy season, monks should remain in their temples during these three months. 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. Phuket Vegetarian Festival The Vegetarian Festival takes place at the start of the ninth Chinese lunar month, which falls in late September or early October. In Thailand, this festival is called thetsakan kin che (), the Vegetarian Festival. Choose the country you plan to visit, then search for your nationality below to see our special travel tips & advice for your country. 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 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). If youre looking for something more affordable, there are also plenty of hostels and guesthouses located throughout the city that offer comfortable lodging at an economical price point. Noodle dishes, curries and soups are prepared without meat, fish sauce, eggs or dairy. The role of ma song, or spirit mediums, is an integral part of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. It plays a significant role during the famous Phuket Vegetarian Festival, usually held in October and November. A fun-fact here is that you will hardly find any vegetables on the stalls. You can observe and even participate in the lighting of joss sticks and candles, before placing them around the various gods. Presently, it is a public holiday in some of these countries. Vietnam stops Covid testing for all arrivals, Vietnam to treat foreign and domestic tourists alike: deputy PM. Participants usually walk on hot coals or pierce their cheeks with swords! These include invoking the gods through different self-mutilating acts such as body piercing and fire walking. 31. Protein substitutes allow these vegetarian dishes to taste, and look like and replace fish, chicken, and pork in Thai cuisine. 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