Vegetarian Festival 2007

[khall64au]

Vegetarian Festival 2007 parade routes announced

PHUKET CITY: Traffic Police have co-ordinated with representatives from the nine major Chinese shrines in Phuket City that will stage parades during the upcoming Vegetarian Festival, to be held from October 11 to 19, in order to announce the parade routes for each shrine.

Lt Col Theerawat Liamsuwan explained that the nine major shrines staging parades are:

- Kuan Te Kun Shrine (Sapam Shrine),

- Lhim Hoo Tai Soo Shrine (Samkong Shrine)

- Jang Ong Shrine

- Tah Reua Shrine

- Tao Bo Kee Ong Shrine (Bang Neow Shrine)

- Jui Tui Shrine

- Laitu Tao Boh Geng Shrine (Kathu Shrine)

- Yok Ke Keng Shrine (Soi Panieng Shrine)

- Sui Boon Tong Shrine (Lor Rong Shrine).

“The parades are very popular to locals and tourists, but they cause traffic jams as the streets are closed to allow the processions to pass,” he said.

The parades are scheduled as follows:

October 13 - Sapam Shrine.

Starting at 7:30 am.

From Nakhon Rd, left onto Yaowarat Rd, right onto Mae Luan Rd, left onto Patipat Rd, left onto Ranong Rd, past the Downtown Market and Suriyadej Circle, then left onto Yaowarat Rd, right onto Phang Nga Rd, right onto Montri Rd, past Surin Circle and along Phuket Rd to the Kiew Tian Shrine at Saphan Hin.

October 14 - Samkong Shrine.

Starting at 7:19 am.

From Samkong Shrine on Yaowarat Rd, then south along Yaowarat Rd, left onto Dibuk Rd, right onto Thepkrasattri Rd, left onto Phang Nga Rd, right onto Montri Rd, continuing onto Tilok Uthit 1 Rd, right onto Ong Sim Phai Rd, left onto Phuket Rd to Saphan Hin.

Return route:

From Saphan Hin onto Phuket Rd, left onto Rassada Rd, right onto Yaowarat Rd, left into Soi Hongyok Utis and past the Gazette offices, turn right and continue through Moo Baan Prayoon and through Phuket Villa 1 then right onto Yaowarat Rd and back to Samkong Shrine.

October 15 - Jang Ong Shrine.

Starting at 6:30 am at the Jang Ong Shrine (opposite Vachira Phuket Hospital on Yaowarat Rd), south along Yaowarat Rd, left onto Dibuk Rd, right onto Thepkrasattri Rd, left onto Phang Nga Rd, right onto Montri Rd, continue onto Tilok Uthit 1 Rd, right onto Ong Sim Phai Rd, left onto Phuket Rd to Saphan Hin.

Return route:

From Saphan Hin onto Phuket Rd, left onto Soi Ton Pho, right onto Tukua Thung Rd, right onto Kra Rd, left onto Phuket Rd, left onto Rassada Rd, right onto Yaowarat Rd and continue back to the Jang Ong Shrine.

October 15 - Tah Reua Shrine.

Starting at 7:30 am.

Starting at the Wor Kor Intersection near Mission Hospital, south along Thepkrasattri Rd, right onto Thalang Rd, continue along Krabi Rd, left onto Patipat Rd, left onto Ranong Rd, past the Downtown Market, left onto Yaowarat Rd, right onto Phang Nga Rd, right onto Phuket Rd and continue to Saphan Hin.

October 16 - Bang Neow Shrine.

From 7 am to 11:30 am.

Starting at Bang Neow Shrine on Phuket Rd, south along Phuket Rd, right onto Soi Ton Pho, right onto Takua Thung Rd, right onto Kra Rd, left onto Phuket Rd, left onto Rassada Rd and continue along Ranong Rd, right onto Patipat Rd, right onto Krabi Rd, left onto Satun Rd, right onto Dibuk, right onto Thepkrasattri rd, right onto Thalang Rd, left onto Yaowarat Rd, left onto Phang Nga Rd, right onto Montri Rd, along Tilok Uthit 1 Rd, right onto Ong Sim Phai Rd, left onto Phuket Rd back to Bang Neow Shrine.

October 17 - Jui Tui Shrine.

From 7 am to 11:30 am.

Starting at Jui Tui Shrine on Ranong Rd, west through the Patipat Rd intersection, continue to Wichit Songkram Rd, east along Krabi Rd, continue along Thalang Rd, right onto Thepkrasattri Rd, right onto Phang Nga Rd, left onto Takuapa Rd then left onto Rassada Rd, right onto Phuket Rd and continue to Saphan Hin.

Return route:

From Saphan Hin, onto Phuket Rd, right onto Soi Gor Pai, left onto Soi Saksit, right onto Takua Thung Rd, right onto Kra Rd, continue along Ong Sim Phai Rd, left onto Tilok Uthit 1 Rd, continue along Montri Rd, left onto Thalang Rd, right onto Thepkrasattri Rd, left onto Dibuk Rd, left onto Yaowarat Rd, right at Suriyadej Circle and onto Ranong Rd and back to Jui Tui Shrine.

October 18 - Kathu Shrine and Soi Panieng Shrine.

From 7:30 am to 11:30 am.

A combined parade for these two shrines will start at Surakul Stadium, head east along Wichit Songkram Rd, continue along Krabi Rd and Thalang Rd, right onto Phuket Rd and continue to Saphan Hin.

October 19 - Sui Boon Tong Shrine (Lor Rong Shrine).

Starting at 7 am.

Starting at the Sui Boon Tong Shrine on Pattana Rd, south along on Pattana Rd then left and left again on Patipat Rd, right onto Krabi Rd, left onto Satun Rd, right onto Dibuk Rd, right onto Thepkrasattri Rd, continue along Phuket Rd, left onto Phang Nga Rd, right onto Montri Rd, left onto Soi Surin, continue along Tilok Uthit 1 Rd, right onto Ong Sim Phai Rd, left onto Phuket Rd and continue to Sapan Hin.

This is the second year that police have announced road closures. However, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampetch said, “If the shrines and the participants in the parades this year are just as uncooperative with police as they were last year, we will not bother making the announcements again, because it’s a waste of everybody’s time because some shrines do not follow the plan.”

Gen Decha specifically mentioned the problem of many mah song (spirit mediums) arriving before the parades start, thus creating traffic jams, and the problem of parade participants using whistles during the parades, thus confusing motorists trying to hear Traffic Police directions.

He also criticized sound trucks promoting specific parades for shrines. “This year, if any vehicles promote specific parades with loudspeakers without permission from the police, they will be fined,” Gen Decha said.

“And last year, many people ignored the “No Parking” signs. Many people double-parked, and many stalls set up on the road and occupied available parking spaces without police permission,” he added.

[LivinLOS]

I asked this before.. But are any of these days larger or more impressive (especially in the crazy / self mutilation side) than others.. If you were only to go to one or two which would you pick ??

[easy_jim]

The parades are all fairly similar, go to any of them and you will get the general idea. Piercings, drums, firecrackers, people marching. Definitely worth seeing at least one.

Around the temples they have a few displays like walking on hot coals, etc. There are also lots of vegetarian food stalls.

If you only go once I would say go and see the final night. Get to Phuket Town around 10pm and find yourself a good spot. The clock tower circle by The Metropole Hotel is a good place. The final parade doesn't have any piercings. Instead they come charging through under a barrage of firecrackers and fireworks thrown by the onlookers. It is absolutely crazy and an amazing sight - looks like a warzone.

The final parade usually comes through the clock tower circle between 11pm and midnight.

[LivinLOS]

May do a morning and the final then..

I do want to see the mad piercing scene..