Technically, people who are in mourning are not supposed to attend the ceremonies in temples. During these nine days, participants abstain from eating meat, poultry, seafood and dairy products, as well as pungent vegetables, such as onion and garlic, which are believed to be "heating" and contribute to aggression and lust. Devotees and participants see this ceremony as cleansing of their past impurities and a fresh start in life. 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. Unlike other festivals and celebrations, this festival involves a lot of gory scenes besides fireworks and fancy attires. Teams of people accompany the masong to keep their wounds clean and to help support the heavier piercings. It always has been my favourite Phuket event / festival and I always used to take too many photos! We recommend the following websites and resources to help in planning your perfect trip to Thailand. 3.Yuan-shih Tien-tsun The First Principal I have created these two VegResources.com guides to help you find vegan events without VegEvents: 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. Sumber foto: AFP. Don't get in the way of participants who prepared for weeks before the event. 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. Observe proper hygiene practices to maintain the purity of the festival. The role of ma song, or spirit mediums, is an integral part of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. 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. One of the performers was sent to China to invite the Nine Emperor Gods (known as the Kiu Ong Iah) to Phuket. A Guide to Thailand for Families With Kids. Popular folk culture has it that the Nine Emperor Gods are actually loyalists of the Ming dynasty who fought against Qing dynasty. The festival begins with a parade from Jui Tui Shrine to Sapan Hin, a public park located near the beach. 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. Bamboo poles are removed from the shrines the following day and safely out back for the next year. Also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, the festival is celebrated by Daoists throughout Thailand in areas with large populations of . High-speed train offers compelling new way to travel through Laos, All about Full Moon Lantern Festival in Hoi An, All about Laos Elephant Festival in Xayabouly, All about Laos Green Pass Online Visa Portal, All about Laos sticky rice & the best dipping sauce to pair with, An insiders guide for That Luang Festival, Angelina Jolie surprises fans by turning up at Angkor Wat, Angkor - The Capital City of Khmer Empire, Angkor Thom Temple - The Great City of Khmer Empire, Angkor Wat - Cambodias Mystical City of Temples. These include invoking the gods through different self-mutilating acts such as body piercing and fire walking. 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. The annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival takes place during the 9th Lunar Month of the chinese calendar. Not all those hotels are historical, but they have a style that fits the event atmosphere. There are different stories behind how the Phuket Vegetarian Festival began, however the most widely accepted is the China Opera troupe Story. Ladies who have their menstrual cycle should not attend the festival. Angkor Wat Tours - How to See the City of Temples without the Crowds? No part of this website may be reproduced or used in any manner without written Basic Thai Phrases: Learn the Basics for Your Holiday! Now is the best time! 125 N Broadway Santa Ana, CA. Raising the Lantern Pole, as stated earlier, is the very first event of the festival and is meant to notify the nine Chinese gods that the festival has started. Shops in Phuket and throughout Thailand display red and yellow jay flags to indicate they are serving appropriate vegan food for observant participants. The festival is celebrated by Chinese Hokkien descendants for the purposes of purifying body and mind, also to ensure a year of prosperity. After graduating from the univesity of language in Hanoi, I started the exploration with a travel agency and learning more about travel, especially responsible travel. The rituals, which last for nine days, are performed to purify both body and mind. During this period of time, the constant tinkling of a prayer bell and chants from the temple priests or mediums are heard. The ceremonies take place in the vicinity of 6 Chinese temples in Phuket. But dont get too excited about this event until you have read our bottom line in this article or you might regret later. What to do in Phuket in 2023? During this time, there are many food offerings available for visitors to enjoy without having to worry about consuming any animal products. 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. Then, the Ma Song demonstrate their submission by presenting their expressive forms of self-mutilation in a public procession. Flight: The Phuket International Airport is the second busiest airport of Thailand after the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. Please feel free to, Ma Song Spirit Mediums, Ritual Piercings, and Self, FAQs in Relation to Phuket Vegetarian Festival. However, Dou Fu Yuan Jun is invoked alongside Dou Mu Yuan Jun in Great Dipper Honouring known as Li Dou ceremonies. The Vegetarian Festival in Phuket typically lasts for nine days. From exploring stunning beaches to taking part in unique cultural activities, there is something for everyone. Songkran in Phuket: Where to join the water fight? The belief is that by abstaining from these types of food, participants will obtain good health and peace of mind. Also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival or the Kin Jay Festival, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is an annual event celebrated primarily by the Chinese community in Thailand and throughout Southeast Asia. Tao Hu Phad Phed: Stir fried Tofu with chili past, Jee Jo (), a famous snack in Phuket, Look Chin Sarai Tod () Deep-fried crispy seaweed balls with sweet sauce, Tao Hu Song Kruang () steamed tofu sauteed in thick Chinese sauce with baby corns and carrots, Phuket Town A Walking Guide to Old Phuket Town, Songkran Festival Phuket 2023 April 13 to 15, 17 Questions People Always Ask about Phuket (and a couple of stupid ones). During this time, locals observe a strict vegetarian diet and take part in various religious ceremonies such as processions with ornately decorated floats and firewalking rituals. However, before the first day of the festival, a ceremonial pole raising must be conducted. This ceremony is usually calm and quiet.However, you can see a lot of buzz later in the week during the parades. However, what sets this festival apart is its bizarre and extreme form of festivities. Running for nine days, the vegetarian festival in Phuket is considered by many to be the most extreme and bizarre of festivals in Thailand. As humans attempt purification using fire, they are actually overcoming their yin and making amends for their sins. 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. However, the two biggest processions are taken out from the Bang Neaw and Jui Tui shrines.Besides volume, the thing that sets Jui Tui apart is featuring women as Chinese Goddesses. [11] In his research project starting in 2012, Schneider identified the affective states of the Ma Song that reflected a religious frame of submission. The worship of Dou Fu Yuan Jun has declined strongly as proper teachings of Taoism degenerate since being exported out of China. What to see at Phuket Vegetarian Festival? 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. One of the most popular dishes served during the festival is noodles. 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. It's 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. 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. We do the research so you dont have to! Subsequently, the festival has grown and developed into a spectacular yearly event in Phuket. Both air-conditioned as well as non-air-conditioned buses are available at different prices. Inland Empire IE Vegan Sundays. What is happening if you have a positive Covid test result when traveling in Thailand? Por Pia Tod Jay () Deep-fried spring rolls. One example of a popular vegetarian snack is the vegetarian spring roll. It attracts thousands of tourists annually with most visitors coming from other Asian destinations, especially from China. Finally, some authors referred to the day as the Buddhist All Saints Day. Get the latest news, inspiring blog articles, or promotion, Boun Bang Fai - Rocket Festival in Thailand and Laos, Buddhist Lent & Khao Phansa Day in Thailand & Laos, Hmong New Year - The Celebration of Colors, Everything you need to know about Magha Puja (Makha Bucha), All about Royal Ploughing Ceremony in Thailand and Cambodia. One member of the opera group was then sent back to China to call on the Kiu Ong lah or the Nine Emperor Gods. Popular folk culture has it that the Nine Emperor Gods are actually sea pirates of the Ming dynasty that plotted to overthrow the Qing dynasty. Where to Experience the Phuket Vegetarian Festival? Celebrate one of the most famous and spectacular cultural events in Phuket. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival takes place in the streets of Phuket Town, so visitors can expect to experience a vibrant atmosphere filled with culture and tradition. Street processions often involve participants walking in a trance, running across a bed of burning coals, and climbing an 8-metre ladder of sharp blades. It is believed that there will be rain throughout the nine days of celebration. The procession walks from an ahm to Phuket town. Why do Phuketians celebrate it? The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival. 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. 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. Once, we even saw a full collection of fake sushi, all made of rice and tofu! The procession will then start, leading the devotees from one shrine to another. 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. Refrain from sexual activities during the festival. While it is often associated with blood and gore, the festival is deep-rooted in tradition and the ancient beliefs of the local Chinese community. 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. Participants usually walk on hot coals or pierce their cheeks with swords! During this week, everyone follows ten principles, mostly wear white, do not eat meat, drink alcohol, do not have sexual activities, etc. For 2023, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival will be celebrated from October 13 to October 22. 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. It has been proposed in Thailand as a more spiritual alternative to the celebration of Valentine's Day. There are a number of rituals or events to see during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Devotees come out in bright traditional Chinese costumes and carry their household Gods to the big temples. Now lets take a look at accommodation options for your stay in Thailand. 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. Bang Neow Shrine is on Phuket Road, a Kio Thian Keng Shrine is a colourful Chinese shrine that is set on the seashore inside Saphan Hin public park in Phuket Town. Once the lantern pole has been erected, participants believe that Shiva, the Hindu god, will go down and provide the festival with the gods spiritual power. The dates change every year, as it's based on the Chinese lunar calendar. It celebrates a gathering that was held between the Buddha and 1,250 of his first disciples, which, according to tradition, preceded the custom of periodic recitation of discipline by monks. The preparation for the festival gears up long before the main day. After 5 great years I have decided to shut down VegEvents in order to focus on building All Impact Jobs. You can see these everywhere from Chiang Mai to Bangkok to Thailand's many islands. 1.Yu-huang -The Jade Emperor Participants wear white clothing to signify purity while taking part in rituals such as fire-walking and body piercing with metal rods or blades. We wont even spare you the gross tongue sliding on a giant blade. 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. During these nine days, there are various activities such as traditional dances, theatrical performances, martial arts demonstrations, firewalking rituals, and more to celebrate Chinese culture. Super Ekstrem, Festival Vegetarian di Thailand Bikin Merinding. All acts of Sexual intercourse must be avoided during the festival. [12] While in Western cultures dominance is seen as a cherished goal, Schneider observed an unusual appreciation of submission amongst the Ma Song. 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. 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. It always has been my favourite Phuket event / festival and I always used [] 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. Participants must behave both physically and mentally. During this period of time, the constant tinkling of a prayer bell and chants from the temple priests are heard. The Chinese followed the tradition of refraining from eating meat, drinking alcoholic drinks, engaging in sex, quarrelling, telling lies or killing. These ceremonies are definitely not for the faint of heart! During this festival, people abstain from eating meat and other animal products for nine days as a way to purify their bodies and minds. 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). San Diego's biggest vegan festival is held at Encinitas' own outdoor bazaar. The festival also includes a vegetarian diet which consists of only vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Segregate your utensils from those who are not participating. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival could be Thailand's answer to the Tamil festival of Thaipusam celebrated in neighboring Malaysia. A procession which draws scores of devotees sends the deities back home. So why not drop me a line today and start planning your dream Thai adventure! See a lot of gory scenes besides fireworks and fancy attires bizarre and extreme form of festivities and,. I have decided to shut down VegEvents in order to focus on building all Impact Jobs extreme. 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