Phuket to hold annual Vegetarian Festival 2010
On August 17th 2010, Teerayuth Aiumtrakul, a Vice Governor of Phuket,
presided over a meeting to discuss about preparation for the 2010
Vegetarian Festival. Those who attended at the meeting were Tawichart
Intarit, Head of Phuket Cultural Office;
Prasert Pakthongpon, the president of Phuket Shrine Association;
representatives from Chinese shrines around the island, government
officers, and representatives from private sectors.
Teerayuth said that Phuket would host its famous annual Vegetarian
Festival during October 8th-16th this year. Therefore this meeting was
held to discuss about preparation for the event in different aspects
including activities in shrines, traffic management, security
management, and Emergency Medical Services or E.M.S. The meeting also
reiterated that the mediums of gods and goddess should not do anything
too ‘horrible’ with the weapon piercing etc in the processions. People
also needed to be careful using firecrackers. This year the firecrackers
would be only be allowed in the procession. Moreover, the government
will also be strict on the entrepreneurs so they do not take advantage
of tourists during the festival. Any tourists facing problems could call
the government’s hotline 1569.
Sign boards, vinyl banners and ‘Japanese’ type flags used to
publicize the festival, have to be in the same style and properly
installed for pleasant sight. For this year, there will be also vinyl
banners at Sarasin Bridge to welcome and promote the festival to the
public and tourists.
Prasert Pakthongpon said the Phuket Shrine Association will hold a
special chanting ceremony as a tribute to HM the King on the second day
of the festival which falls on October 9th this year. It will start from
5pm onwards at Saphan Hin. The association asks those who would like to
participate at the ceremony to dress in white.
Resource : phuketnews.phuketindex.com
August 19, 2010