Phuket Vegetarian Festival

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is an annual event held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. It is believed that the vegetarian festival and its accompanying sacred rituals bestow good fortune upon those who religiously observe this rite.

During this time, local residents of Chinese ancestry strictly observe a 10-day vegetarian or vegan diet for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit-making. Sacred rituals are performed at various Chinese shrines and temples and aesthetic displays such as walking barefooted over hot coals and ascending ladders with bladed rungs are performed by entranced devotees known as "Ma Song".

Schedule for street processions of Chinese Shrines

TUE	October 20, 2009	Sapam Shrine
WED	October 21, 2009	Samkong Shrine
THU	October 22, 2009	Ban Tha Rve Shrine
FRI	October 23, 2009	Bang Neow Shrine Cherng Thalay Shrine
SAT	October 24, 2009	Jui Tui Shrine
SUN	October 25, 2009	Kathu Shrine Yokkekeng Shrine
MON	October 26, 2009	Sui Boon Tong Shrine

10 RULES FOR THE VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL

1. Cleanliness of bodies during the festival
2. Clean kitchen utensils and to use them seperately from other who do not join the festival
3. Wear white during the festival
4. Behave physically and mentally
5. No meat eating
6. No sex
7. No alcoholic drinks
8. People at mourning period should not attend the festival
9. Pragnant ladies should not watch any ritual
10. Ladies with period should not attend the ritual

Resource : www.phuketvegetarian.com, Photo by: www.neophuket.com

September 24, 2009