The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, held annually during the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, is a vibrant and spiritual event rooted in Chinese tradition. Celebrated in Phuket, this festival honors the Nine Emperor Gods and promotes abstinence from meat, alcohol, and other stimulants for spiritual purification. Known for its extreme rituals, such as firewalking and body piercing, the festival is not for the faint-hearted but offers a deeply spiritual and cultural experience.
The event takes place around several Chinese shrines in Phuket, with the main temple being Jui Tui Shrine. Visitors can enjoy delicious vegetarian dishes sold at street stalls and witness mesmerizing processions. This festival is an unmissable, culturally rich experience for adventurous travelers.
The Thai Vegetarian Festival, also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival (In the Thai language we call it “Te-sa-gan Gin Je”) occurs every year during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. This year, Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2023 happens from 2nd – 11th October 2024.
Q&A Vegetarian Festival
Where is the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket? Jui Tui Shrine (Sang Tham Shrine): Jui Tui Shrine is one of the central hubs for the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket. It's located on Soi Phutorn, Ranong Road, in the heart of Phuket Town. This shrine hosts many of the festival's ceremonies, including the pole-raising ceremony and various processions.
What does the piercing mean in Phuket Vegetarian Festival? In the heart of Phuket, hundreds of devotees and worshippers march in a procession honoring the Chinese gods. Some with sharp objects pierced through their faces say that the meaning of the piercing is a symbol of the sinful things they may have said during the non-vegetarian season.
Where is the most popular Vegetarian Festival? One such soul-cleansing event is the Thai Vegetarian Festival; a time when believers embark on a journey, not just of taste, but also of deep personal purification. Thailand is known for its many festivals and in October this year, it is the Taoist vegetarian festival known as Tesakan Gin Jae or Jae Festival.
How long is the Vegetarian Festival in Thailand? The festival continues for nine days, during which time devotees join processions in Phuket — and partake in mutilation rituals. These parades are the centrepiece of the festival, a nine-day spectacle of ritual mutilation, pyrotechnics and meat-free food which descends on Phuket in the ninth lunar month of each year.
What festival is Phuket famous for? By far the most famous festival in Phuket is the Vegetarian Festival. Held over nine days in October or the start of the ninth lunar month, the festival is rooted in Chinese cultural practice of abstaining from meat and stimulants during this period.
What is the name of the Vegetarian Festival? The Nine Emperor Gods Festival (Min Nan Chinese: 九皇爺誕; Malay: Perayaan Sembilan Maharaja Dewa; Thai: เทศกาลกินเจ, เทศกาลกินผัก (ภาคใต้ประเทศไทย) ) or Vegetarian Festival or Jay Festival is a nine-day Taoist celebration beginning on the eve of the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar.
Does Thaipusam piercing hurt? They claim their subjects do not feel pain; in fact, they can be the ones who suffer. We find out how, from inducing trances to fasting before piercing begins.
Why is body piercing done? The piercing of various body sites has been practiced for thousands of years. Reasons for piercing have included adornment, rites of passage, religious purposes, and sexual practices. In Western society, piercing of the earlobe for adornment has become common.
What is halal to pierce? So, ear piercings are considered permissible since there isn't any evidence of prohibiting them. In fact, there's no specific prohibition regarding the number of ear piercings a woman may have. Therefore, Muslim women can pierce their ears multiple times if they choose to do so.
Which is the No 1 vegetarian country in the world? Top 10 Countries with the Most Vegetarians: According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, India has the highest percentage of vegetarians in the world, with 38% of the population identifying as vegetarian. Mexico is second, with about 19% of its population identifying as vegetarian.
Which country is heaven for vegetarian? India is a heaven for vegetarians. India has a huge percentage of vegetarians. As per a report published in Wikipedia, India has the least meat consumption per capita.
What is the most vegetarian friendly country? “The Seychelles' top score was driven by its high number of vegetarian-friendly restaurants in relation to its small population, alongside its low annual meat consumption,” says Oliver's Travels. “In the Seychelles, only 35.6kg of meat per capita is consumed annually.
What is the purpose of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival? The festival celebrates the Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. The festival is famous for its 'extreme' celebrations. These include acts that invoke the gods, from firewalking to body piercing.
How do you ask for vegetarian in Thailand? The word for vegetarian is mangsawerat (มังสวิรัติ). The word for vegan is jey (เจ).
Are most people in Thailand vegetarian? According to statista.com, In 2019, around eight percent of the total population in Thailand did not eat meat. It is difficult to find a statistic for the exact number of vegans, some are plant-based but don't necessarily identify as vegans.
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