No meat or animal products to be consumed during the festival. Popular dishes are vegetarian pink noodle soup, which uses mushrooms to substitute pork blood cubes, fried tofu, deep-fried spring roll, and fried taro.[8]. Noodle dishes, curries and soups are prepared without meat, fish sauce, eggs or dairy. Cindy quit her 9 to 5 job to pursue her passion for exploring mesmerizing locations in Thailand. During this week, everyone follows ten principles, mostly wear white, do not eat meat, drink alcohol, do not have sexual activities, etc. This send-off ritual starts at 10:30 in the evening of the last day. Khao Mok Kai () A dish that looks like chicken rice, but the chicken is replaced with tofu. 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. Unreliable citations may be challenged or deleted. This parade features colorful floats, marching bands, and dancers dressed in traditional costumes. Perbesar. It celebrates the unique belief of the chinese community in the holiness of vegetarian food. . [4] [5] Shops in Phuket and throughout Thailand display red and yellow jay flags to indicate they are serving appropriate vegan food for observant participants. The same applies to women who are pregnant or menstruating. The dates change every year, as it's based on the Chinese lunar calendar. The malaria-stricken Chinese opera group recovered from their illness and since then, the inhabitants of Phuket continue the festivals celebration. The rituals, which last for nine days, are performed to purify both body and mind. Thailands many festivals are always a marvel and something everyone should experience at least once. The main temple is Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town. Phuket Vegetarian Festival Sep 25, 2022 - Oct 4, 2022. I run Phuket101.net and manage large international online travel guides. The festival is famous for its 'extreme' celebrations. [9], During the festival, food stalls sell Thai and Chinese food made without animal products. The belief is that by abstaining from these types of food, participants will obtain good health and peace of mind. It always has been my favourite Phuket event / festival and I always used to take too many photos! Come join us at Phuket's premier vegan restaurant during the annual vegetarian festival where we have a special dedicated vegetarian menu on offer for all of those following the event. 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. It is a good idea to stay well away from this deafening and sometimes frightening aspect of the Vegetarian Festival. What is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2022? The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a unique event that takes place annually in Thailand and draws visitors from around the world. 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. The best place to grab some vegan dishes is Warorot Market, Chiang Mais oldest market. Here, they will meditate, pray, study, and teach other young monks. This ritual is believed to summon the Nine Emperor God on earth. Text and Photos are Copyright Phuket 101 and Willy Thuan 2011 - 2023 - Copy or use of images or texts without written authorization is strictly prohibited (Credit to or mention of the blog does not constitute authorization). The Vegetarian Festival in Phuket typically lasts for nine days. The best place to celebrate this festival in Phuket is Phuket Town, where the majority of the Chinese shrines are located and where most participants gather. Soybean and protein substitute products are used to replace pork, chicken or fish they even look and taste exactly like meat. In 2021 the festival was 5 - 15 October. The procession will then start, leading the devotees from one shrine to another. The airport is well-connected to Bangkok with daily flights. 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 main events are held at the Jui Tui Shrine in Old Town Phuket and other temples throughout the city. That is where I can best use my software development skills to help the world. Eventually, the festival has grown into a spectacle and is celebrated yearly in Phuket. 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. In pre-modern times, Magha Puja has been celebrated by some Southeast Asian communities. See at the end of the page to read about a few popular dishes. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is the annual nine-day event taking place during the ninth Chinese lunar month. One of the oldest shrines on the island, Kathu Shrine is believed to have been the first shrine to observe the festivities of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Liputan6dotcom. The festival is celebrated by Chinese Hokkien descendants for the purposes of purifying body and mind, also to ensure a year of prosperity. Weeks before the Vegetarian Festival events, yellow Chinese flags bloom on every roadside and intersection, especially near Chinese temples. They believe that adopting a vegetarian diet and paying homage to the nine Gods wards off the evil spirits. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, also referred to as the Kin Jay Festival or the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, is a yearly event celebrated in Thailand primarily by the Chinese community. For those looking for a more upscale experience, many of the areas top resorts offer special packages for guests attending the festival. Visitors from all over Thailand come to witness this unique event which has been celebrated since 1825. The ceremonies of the Vegetarian Festival take place in six Chinese temples scattered throughout Phuket, Thailand. Tourists can look for yellow-coloured flags with red Thai or Chinese characters to find the stall selling these vegetarian dishes. Khanom Jeen Jay () thin cold rice noodles served with a curry sauce and with tofu and mushrooms. The festival is becoming more eventful year after year. For several days, on both sides of Phuket Town streets leading to shrines, food stands display tons of vegetarian dishes in all imaginable shapes and sizes (but often have a very similar taste). 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. Most restaurants in and around Phuket remain shut during the festival. Unlike other festivals and celebrations, this festival involves a lot of gory scenes besides fireworks and fancy attires. From the vibrant street processions to the delicious vegetarian dishes, there is something for everyone at this festival. Anyway, Phuket is a small island, so wherever your hotel is, you are not far from the old streets where the procession looks the best. It is assumed that the household gods will benefit from an annual injection of spiritual energy that fills the temple. 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. [6] Vegan food is prepared because it is considered the most pure. [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). Shops in Phuket and throughout Thailand display red and yellow jay flags to indicate they are serving appropriate vegan food for observant participants. 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. She has been living here for the past 5 years now and through Thailand Nomads, she shares her experiences and insights about the must-visit places in Thailand. Once the pole is erected, the Hindu God Shiva descends, as per the celebrants belief. There are different stories behind how the Phuket Vegetarian Festival began, however the most widely accepted is the China Opera troupe Story. 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. It is believed that there will be rain throughout the nine days of celebration. When: Every other Sunday, 12-4pm The irony is that real vegetables are hard to find: you mostly will find noodles, deep-fried stuff, and tofu shaped like meat, but no vegetables. 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. However, the art of "jay" food is that many of the dishes look and taste like meat. 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. The role of ma song, or spirit mediums, is an integral part of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Segregate your utensils from those who are not participating. One of the most popular dishes served during the festival is noodles. 15 Islands Near Phuket Phuket Island Hopping, Jade Emperor and Nine Emperor Gods Welcoming Ritual, The Pilgrims Name Reading Ritual in The Sacred Hall, The Birth and Death of Humans Gods Welcoming Ritual, Big Dipper Astrolatry: Seven Star Worshipping Ritual, Jade Emperor and Nine Emperor Gods Retreating Ritual, Wear white clothes during the whole festival, Do not eat meat or animal products (milk, eggs, etc. 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. Participants wear white clothing to signify purity while taking part in rituals such as fire-walking and body piercing with metal rods or blades. 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. "STREET PROCESSION RITUAL"The Vegetarian Festival celebrates the belief of a Chinese community in Phuket, Thailand. Refrain from sexual activities during the festival. I love experiencing the different cultures of the different lands and sharing my dream with the whole world. Save Long Beach Vegan Festival VIP Pass to your collection. Subsequently, the festival has grown and developed into a spectacular yearly event in Phuket. Since then, the people of Phuket have continued to celebrate the festival. Devotees not only adopt a special diet for the holiday, a select few participants prove their devotion by practicing self-mutilation. The festival begins with a parade from Jui Tui Shrine to Sapan Hin, a public park located near the beach. Tourists are invited to attend the procession and take photographs. Ma song are typically chosen by the community and undergo a rigorous selection process. Not recommended for the faint-hearted, one of the most exciting aspects of the festival are the various, sometimes gruesome ceremonies which are held to invoke the gods. Namun, keahlian yang dimiliki orang-orang berikut ini benar-benar langka dan tak biasa. Phuket Vegetarian Festival is the most popular in town for a reason. At the temple during the festival there is also firewalking and blade-ladder climbing. 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. These markets are open from 5pm and are easy to access from Hua Lumphong MRT station. All Rights Reserved. This area is usually closed-off during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival and it is here that vegetarian food stalls abound. 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. Firewalking ceremonies can be seen where devotees walk across burning charcoal without being burned and spirit mediums perform rituals on stage. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival held in autumn - also known under its more Taoist-inspired name Nine Emperor Gods Festival - is no exception. If you go to Soi 20 of Charoen Krung Road, the area is transformed into an event space full of food stalls and fruit sellers. This year, the event will take place from 15th to 23rd October 2023. Running for nine days, the vegetarian festival in Phuket is considered by many to be the most extreme and bizarre of festivals in Thailand. What is Nine Emperor Gods Festival? For 9 days, participants observe the following commitments: The often-gruesome ceremonies during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival are definitely not recommended for the faint-hearted. During this period of time, the constant tinkling of a prayer bell and chants from the temple priests or mediums are heard. This is Phuket's most famous and spectacular festival. Pregnant women should not watch any of the rituals. 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. This procession symbolizes the purification of the body and soul before entering into a period of abstinence from meat consumption during the festival days. Chiang Mai is already packed with vegan and vegetarian restaurants, but for Vegetarian Festival, the city takes things to another level. Choose the country you plan to visit, then search for your nationality below to see our special travel tips & advice for your country. Like it or hate it but you can certainly not remain indifferent to it. Mee Pad Jay () fried flat rice noodles or round egg yellow noodles with kale, one of the most popular vegetarian dishes during the festival. The streets are filled with people walking barefoot over hot coals or climbing ladders made of blades as part of their spiritual journey. 2.San-ching -Three Pure Ones There are a number of rituals or events to see during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. The Vegetarian Festival in Thailand is an annual event celebrated by the Chinese community in Thailand. Ladies who have their menstrual cycle should not attend the festival. Devotees come out in bright traditional Chinese costumes and carry their household Gods to the big temples. One of the best things to do in Phuket is attending the Vegetarian festival. 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