The first event is called the Raising of the Lantern Pole, which notifies the 9 Chinese gods of the start of the festival. My name is Jolie, I am a Vietnamese girl growing up in the countryside of Hai Duong, northern Vietnam. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a nine-day Taoist celebration beginning on the eve of 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, meaning late September or October. 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. According to Priest Long Hua, this information is inaccurate and considered derogatory to the actual teachings of Taoism as the. White clothes must be worn during the festival. Women in menstruation and pregnancy should not participate in the festival. They can also be seen shaking their heads back and forth continually, and usually do not seem to "see" their surroundings. You have to refrain from all sorts of intoxication. In the past, monks were not even allowed to leave the temple, but today, most monks just refrain from traveling during this period. Most of them sell noodles, sushi, tofu shaped like meat and other fast foods. Joss sticks and candles are lit before placing the Gods in the temples. There's a magic about this charming yet confounding kingdom that casts a spell on visitors. The festival is associated with some ceremonies that are considered brutal and gruesome. [6] Come and experience the joy of Thailands Phuket Vegetarian Festival! During the ritual, devotees will wait in the streets of Phuket town to send God Kiu Ong off to heaven. Many tourists come from Malaysia. It is assumed that the household gods will benefit from an annual injection of spiritual energy that fills the temple. The worship of Dou Fu Yuan Jun has declined strongly as proper teachings of Taoism degenerate since being exported out of China. What is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2022? Weeks before the Vegetarian Festival events, yellow Chinese flags bloom on every roadside and intersection, especially near Chinese temples. 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 Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a colourful annual event held on the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, usually in September or October. Then, participants must observe or follow certain rules or commitments for nine days which include the following. 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. People in a grieving period should not attend the festival. Phuket Vegetarian Festival has started on Monday, September 26th. Its truly one of the most unique things you will ever experience. Devotees not only adopt a special diet for the holiday, a select few participants prove their devotion by practicing self-mutilation. 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! 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. We wont even spare you the gross tongue sliding on a giant blade. The Vegetarian Festival in Thailand is an annual event celebrated by the Chinese community in Thailand. It is believed that long ago, a famous Chinese Opera band visited the island to perform for the Chinese inhabitants of Phuket. 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. The annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival takes place during the 9th Lunar Month of the chinese calendar. In 2021 the festival was 5 - 15 October. It celebrates the unique belief of the chinese community in the holiness of vegetarian food. The content and the images arenot recommended for the faint of heart! Participants believe that their household gods will be benefiting from the yearly infusion of spiritual power from the temples. It is mostly celebrated in South-Eastern Asian countries but particularly in Thailand. During this time, locals take part in parades, street processions, temple ceremonies, and food offerings to honor their ancestors. Presently, it is a public holiday in some of these countries. Now is the best time! The Vegetarian Festival is an internationally known event, and while it also happens modestly in Bangkok around the same dates, it is mostly a Phuket event. Also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, the festival is celebrated by Daoists throughout Thailand in areas with large populations of . Its a celebration of Chinese culture with an emphasis on vegan cuisine, street processions, and other religious rituals. What is the Difference between Laos & Thai Papaya Salad. 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. The royal ploughing ceremony, called Lehtun Mingala, or Mingala Ledaw, was also practiced in pre-colonial Burma until 1885 when the monarchy was abolished. The opera group made a complete recovery and the epidemic ceased. The masong tradition which is similar to Tng-ki also exist among the Chinese communities in Singapore and Malaysia during this festival. The capital of Phuket province, Old Town is a place steeped in history. 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. 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. Last 2021, the festival was celebrated from September 25, 2022, to October 4, 2022. 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. Yellow chinese flags are put up in the entire city. Por Pia Tod Jay () Deep-fried spring rolls. This area is usually closed-off during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival and it is here that vegetarian food stalls abound. [8] Hat Yai had more than 100 vegetarian food stalls during the 2022 festival. In Thailand, the Pli term Mgha-praam is also used for the celebration, meaning 'to honor on the full moon of the third lunar month'. 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. Ladies who have their menstrual cycle should not attend the festival. 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. I also love exploring the many ancient ruins and historical sites throughout Thailand. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a colorful annual event held on the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, usually in September or October. ", "The Most Colorful Festivals Worth Attending In Thailand", "15 years later, a vegan pioneer still sets the standard", "Celebrating the Vegetarian Festival 2022: where to go and what to eat", "Hat Yai prepares for start of the vegetarian festival on Monday", "How to Experience the Phuket Vegetarian Festival in Thailand", "NTU team to study popular Taoist festival of the Nine Emperor Gods", "Nine Emperor Gods Festival celebrated with many people of all races and religions", Nine Emperor Gods Temple in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2018 | Nine Emperor Gods Festival 2018 - Video, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nine_Emperor_Gods_Festival&oldid=1127955778, Tan Lang Tai Xing Jun ()1st Star (Visible) Bayer: UMa, Ju Men Yuan Xing Jun () 2nd Star (Visible) Bayer: UMa, Lu Cun Zhen Xing Jun () 3rd Star (Visible) Bayer: UMa, Wen Qu Niu Xing Jun () 4th Star (Visible) Bayer: UMa, Lian Zhen Gang Xing Jun () 5th Star (Visible) Bayer: UMa, Wu Qu Ji Xing Jun () 6th Star (Visible) Bayer: UMa, Po Jun Guan Xing Jun () 7th Star (Visible) Bayer: UMa, Zuo Fu Da Dao Xing Jun () 8th Star (Invisible), You Bi Da Dao Xing Jun () 9th Star (Invisible), This page was last edited on 17 December 2022, at 16:13. Koh Lanta island is one of the most popular destinations for new years eve party in Thailand for backpackers. 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. Participants usually walk on hot coals or pierce their cheeks with swords! by tripsavvy. The purpose of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, which seems to originate in 1800, seems to differ from the Chinese event in several South-East Asia countries. The dishes are prepared without the use of garlic, chili, or strong spices. The ninth day of the festival is its climax. Save Long Beach Vegan Festival VIP Pass to your collection. 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. Address: Bang Neow intersection, Phuket Road, Tambon Talat Yai, Mueang, Phuket 83000. 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. During the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, Thai restaurants serving meat are open as usual. It's believed that the Chinese gods will protect them from harm, resulting in little blood or scarring. It was also reported that Chinese temples in Hat Yai stockpiled vegetarian food in advance of the festival and hired more people. Therefore, it is important to come mentally prepared. 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. [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. 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. Don't get in the way of participants who prepared for weeks before the event. Magha Puja (also written as Makha Bucha Day) is the third most important Buddhist festival, celebrated on the full moon day of the third lunar month in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Sri Lanka and on the full moon day of Tabaung in Myanmar. This parade features colorful floats, marching bands, and dancers dressed in traditional costumes. In pre-modern times, Magha Puja has been celebrated by some Southeast Asian communities. So from early morning, worshipers will enter a trance at their favourite shrine and pierce their cheek with the most extreme object possible: from a gas nozzle to a scale warship model or a car shock absorber. These markets are open from 5pm and are easy to access from Hua Lumphong MRT station. Apart from the visual spectacle of this festival, you can partake in vegetarian dishes, which are sold at street stalls and markets around the island. This year, it . 7.Tien-shih There are two terminals in the airport; Terminal 1 is used for international flights while Terminal 2 is used for domestic flights. Tourists can simply enjoy this visual spectacle and simply enjoy the vegetarian dishes sold in markets and street stalls on the island. After ceremonially crossing the bridge, a red stamp of the gods is then placed on the back of participants to show they are already free from calamities and sin. Where to Experience the Phuket Vegetarian Festival? We recommend the following websites and resources to help in planning your perfect trip to Thailand. How many days do you need and how to plan the best itinerary in Cambodia? Perbesar. Some of the feats performed include piercing cheeks with swords, walking on nails or hot coals, and climbing ladders made of knife blades! Thousands of people will pay respect to their ancestors. 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. These are in the old streets, not expensive, renovated recently but small and bare. Health officials call for a 'safer' Phuket Vegetarian Festival. It's considered as the number one auspicious event on the southern Thai island of Phuket, and may as well be one of the country's most eccentric and extreme festivals. The Colorful & Traditional Kyaukse Elephant Dance Festival, The Colorful and Magical Naga New Year Festival in Myanmar, The Magical Thadingyut Festival of Light in Myanmar, The Story of Burmese Longyi - Myanmars Traditional Dress, Top 15 best traditional Laos dishes you need to try, Top 15 Festivals in Vietnam that you should not miss, Top 16 Traditional Festivals in Myanmar That You Cannot Miss, Top 18 Places for New Years Eve 2021 in Thailand, Ultimate guide for Tazaungdaing or Taunggyi Fire Balloon Festival, Vang Vieng Prepares for First Cabbage Festival, Vietnam & Laos listed as Safest For Travel by CDC (USA). The Phuket vegetarian festival has something special for all who attend and it will surely leave a lasting impression on your trip to Thailand. 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. Most devotees come here to pray for good health or simply pray for the healing of certain health issues. 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. 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 local Thai and Chinese community will then bring their offerings of food and drink along with their household gods to the temple in the next few days of the festival. Phuket Vegetarian Festival Sep 25, 2022 - Oct 4, 2022. The festival ends just after midnight when the devotees have sent back the Nine Emperor Gods. One member of the opera group was then sent back to China to call on the Kiu Ong lah or the Nine Emperor Gods. Wednesday, May . 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). During this festival, participants observe a strict vegetarian diet for nine days as part of their spiritual journey. The main temple is Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town. The festival is celebrated by Chinese Hokkien descendants for the purposes of purifying body and mind, also to ensure a year of prosperity. The Vegetarian Festival in Phuket typically lasts for nine days. 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. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a unique event that takes place annually in Thailand and draws visitors from around the world. Long Beach Vegan Festival VIP Pass. 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