In Thailand, this festival is called thetsakan kin che (), the Vegetarian Festival. Most participants miraculously heal up without needing stitches or medical care. 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. Shops in Phuket and throughout Thailand display red and yellow jay flags to indicate they are serving appropriate vegan food for observant participants. 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. We are looking for writers. The Nine Emperor Stars are: On the eve of the lunar ninth month, temples dedicated to Nine Emperor Gods will conduct an important ceremony to invoke and welcome the Nine Emperor Gods. History of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Held at various locations throughout Phuket Island, this festival offers something for everyone to enjoy whether you are looking for delicious food or thrilling entertainment! 6.San-yuan Three Epochs Since the arrival of the gods is believed to be through the waterways, processions are held from temples to the sea shore or river to symbolize this belief. The best place to book a hotel for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival and be near one of the parades would be one of the heritage hotels in Phuket town. Full Moon Party in Thailand: The Ultimate Guide to Koh Phangans Iconic Event! We do the research so you dont have to! Many restaurants across Phuket offer special menus for vegetarians during this period so its easy to find something delicious no matter what your dietary preferences may be. What is Nine Emperor Gods Festival? Its a celebration of Chinese culture with an emphasis on vegan cuisine, street processions, and other religious rituals. Soups are another common dish served during the festival; they often contain vegetables, herbs, and spices simmered together in a flavorful broth base. However, linking to the blog is welcomed. The main temple is Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town. If you are a faint-hearted person, we advise you to not watch these parades as the devotees perform eerie acts of self-mutilation such as slicing their tongues with a sword, piercing their body and face with sharp skewers, etc. Where to Experience the Phuket Vegetarian Festival? Cyclone Freddy has made landfall on Madagascar, leaving destruction in its wake. Participants wear white clothing to signify purity while taking part in rituals such as fire-walking and body piercing with metal rods or blades. Some resorts even provide complimentary transportation from nearby airports or train stations so you dont have to worry about getting around town once you arrive in Phuket. 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. Vegetarian Festival is not limited to Phuket, as it is celebrated throughout Thailand, particularly in cities with large Chinese populations, such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Check out all the must-see places and things to do & see, Unique experience combined with top-notch services, Easy excursion combined with week-long beach break, Easy excursions combined with unique experience making the long-lasting romantic memories, The combination of fun and educational activities, Explorethe least visited destinations and unknown experienceon foot, Reveal off-the-beatentrack routes, least explored destinations, and unknown tribe groups, Explore every corners of the destination on two wheels, The combination ofsome must-see experience and the cruise tour along the mighty rivers. There is a whole universe of special deals, offers and travel advice online. According to Rev. Either are you wondering about best time to visit, visa policy, or how to get the cheapest flight, we have your back! 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. What is happening if you have a positive Covid test result when traveling in Thailand? The annual vegetarian festival will get under way between the first to the ninth day of the ninth lunar month in the Chinese calendar. The annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival takes place during the 9th Lunar Month of the chinese calendar. 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. Email:jordan@thailandnomads.com, https://www.thailandnomads.com/author/cindyb/, Phuket Vegetarian Festival: The Complete Guide to Visiting It, 5 Best Cannabis Shops in Phuket - 2023 Travellers Guide, Best Muay Thai Training Centers in Koh Tao 2023 Guide, Everything You Need to Know About the Koh Tao Weather 2023 Guide, Best Golf Courses in Phuket That Are A Must-Visit for Golf Lovers, 7 Must Visit Night Markets in Phuket 2023 Update. These packages often include discounts on accommodations as well as access to exclusive events such as cooking classes or traditional ceremonies. The annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival occurs on the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar (often, around October) and spans nine days, where participants - usually of Chinese ancestry- undergo a strict vegetarian diet during the period. Most restaurants in and around Phuket remain shut during the festival. The Nine Emperor Stars are: On the eve of the ninth moon, temples of the deities hold a ceremony to invoke and welcome the nine emperors. 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. Women experiencing their menstrual cycle should not attend the rituals. Masong are the people who invite the spirits of gods to possess their bodies. Parades usually start at 9 minutes past the hour, disrupting traffic during morning rush hours. The abstinence from eating any kind of me. Popular folk culture has it that the Nine Emperor Gods are actually loyalists of the Ming dynasty who fought against Qing dynasty. Yellow chinese flags are put up in the entire city. 8.Pa-hsien Eight Immortals. These include invoking the gods through different self-mutilating acts such as body piercing and fire walking. Subsequently, the festival has grown and developed into a spectacular yearly event in Phuket. Finally, some authors referred to the day as the Buddhist All Saints Day. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival begins on the first day of the ninth month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, so dates change annually. 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. Location: Phuket Town. Participants must behave both physically and mentally. They can also be seen shaking their heads back and forth continually, and usually do not seem to "see" their surroundings. 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. Today, most Nine Emperor God temples do not acknowledge the existence of Dou Fu Yuan Jun. Those in a state of mourning should not participate in the festival. During this period of time, the constant tinkling of a prayer bell and chants from the temple priests are heard. We post the unavoidable piercing photos everyone has already seen or shot themselves here. (and get our downloadable Phuket Travel Guide PDF for free too!). Devotees dressed in traditional white, carrying incense and candles, await for their arrival. With everything that goes on during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, lets look at some of the important events, activities, and details of the said festival. [10] Many varieties of tofu are prepared and sold during the festival. Phuket Vegetarian Festival Sep 25, 2022 - Oct 4, 2022. While large crowds of people gather to watch, the entranced mah song distribute blessed candy and pieces of orange cloth with Chinese characters printed on them yan for good luck. Long Beach Vegan Festival VIP Pass. Aside from the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, Phuket also celebrates the Loi Krathong Festival, the Chinese New Year, and the Por Tor, or the Festival of the Hungry Ghost. It has been proposed in Thailand as a more spiritual alternative to the celebration of Valentine's Day. 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. Where to celebrate Loy Krathong Festival in Phuket? This is because while the most spectacular activities are conducted on Phuket Island, the entire country observes the said festival as well. This send-off ritual starts at 10:30 in the evening of the last day. 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. There's a magic about this charming yet confounding kingdom that casts a spell on visitors. This temple is considered to be one of the oldest in Phuket and is dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy. If you want to write for us, please get in touch. Florian Christian on Flickr, Vegetarian festival Phuket, Florian Christian on Flickr, Phuket Vegetarian Festival. According to tradition, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival aims to bring good health and peace of mind by abstaining from meat, certain drinks, and activities that are considered impure or unclean. [6] During this festival, people abstain from eating meat and other animal products for nine days as a way to purify their bodies and minds. Flight: The Phuket International Airport is the second busiest airport of Thailand after the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. 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. However, what sets this festival apart is its bizarre and extreme form of festivities. How many days do you need and how to plan the best itinerary in Laos? Not all those hotels are historical, but they have a style that fits the event atmosphere. Reopening Thailand: Everything you need to know when traveling during covid, Songkran in Bangkok - Sacred Tradition Vs. Crazy Water Fight. The devotees wear bright and very ornamented outfits, and then you are set for a full week of firecrackers, parades, piercings, and vegetarian food. Experiencing the festival for the first time is life-changing as it really needs to be seen to be believed. 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