Vegetarian Festival

[Sydneycraig]

What's the best time/day/location to see the extreme face piercings?

Not interested in explaining why I want to see this or for suggestions of Bangla rd/2am onwards/ tuk tuk rank....

Thanks

[Sydneycraig]

So anyone been ? Any info? Assume the early morning events have most of the action?!

[Kopitiam]

So anyone been ? Any info? Assume the early morning events have most of the action?!

Here is a good link to info on the Vegetarian Festival 2012 : http://www.phuketemagazine.com/phuketvegetarianfestival2012-en/?utm_source=Siam+Real+Estate+Newsletter+October+2012&utm_campaign=Newsletter+October&utm_medium=email

[dogpoo]

Saw lots of people this morning with all sorts of things coming out of all sorts of places!! Why they do it is beyond me!!

[Sydneycraig]

So apparently one of the big parades is tomorrow in Phuket town from 7am... The Chinese temple just down from robinsons towards immigration.

[BabyJebus]

please refer to it as the Deep fried festival instead of insulting the chinese heritage of all of this

Edited October 19, 2012 by BabyJebus

[hansgruber]

please refer to it as the Deep fried festival instead of insulting the chinese heritage of all of this

Nothing healthy about it.

All deep fried vegetables or tofu. Haven't seen one vegetarian raw dish served.

[dogpoo]

Lots of people with things sticking out from bodily places at Saphan Hin this morning, I assume they will be back tomorrow, all very strange!!

[Guest]

please refer to it as the Deep fried festival instead of insulting the chinese heritage of all of this

Nothing healthy about it.

All deep fried vegetables or tofu. Haven't seen one vegetarian raw dish served.

There are plenty of choice for that as well.

[Guest]

The festival gives an glimpse of the true magical east. Absolutely great festival. For once Amazing Thailand sounds like a valid marketing punchline.

[BabyJebus]

you must come from a town of 1000 people... all these festivals including this one looks like a preschool talent show for me

[dogpoo]

The festival gives an glimpse of the true magical east. Absolutely great festival. For once Amazing Thailand sounds like a valid marketing punchline.

It's a great thing to see but why do they stick things through parts of there body? What is this true magical east thing all about?

[Mosha]

Not Phuket, but in Ranong yesterday. My wife had to go to the bank. We were stuck for an hour, I sat in the truck to escape the noise. This guy just feet from me started rubbing his tongue on the edge of a blade. I felt like puking. Throwing crackers in the air on one corner, never mind the noise, it's a wonder they didn't take someones eyeout.

[grumpyoldman]

Saw the parade go by on Chaofa headed for Wat Chalong, snapped the shot of this guy.

I wonder what the significance of the apple is?

[dogpoo]

Saw the parade go by on Chaofa headed for Wat Chalong, snapped the shot of this guy.

I wonder what the significance of the apple is?

An apple a day keeps the doctor away!! Lol

[Guest]

you must come from a town of 1000 people... all these festivals including this one looks like a preschool talent show for me

Well, I do prefer local dishes over Happy meals in plastic containers.

[Guest]

Few photos from yesterday.

[BabyJebus]

Buy a deep frier and tons of oils

Heres your local culture my friend

[Guest]

For the OP, I think the street processions include the piercing.

[grumpyoldman]

Few photos from yesterday.

I think I recognize the dragon as in Trang Town?

[Guest]

It would make sense if they recycle/loan some of these decoration items to other places instead keeping those in the storage.

[Guest]

Today there will be the blade ladder climbing and Oil bath.. what ever those are. So it's time to go and learn what those are.. and eat some great som tam as well.

On previous years I only went to see the festival close to the 2 ladies monument.. Now I know that it has been an mistake. The town is the place to go. Don't miss it if you have a chance.

[Sydneycraig]

I have been today and yesterday for the 7am parades... Pretty interesting. Got plenty of good photos of face piercing but some a but gruesome... Taking out a large gun leaves quite an open gash... Seems to warrant only sticky tape to seal up tho !!

[Guest]

Please share sample pictures if you can.

The festival has been for me one of those moments when I once again realize how little do I know

When I was talking with participants and one local tourist guide at one temple and on the streets, they said that they are both Buddhist and Tao, kind of an mixture which they could not really explain. I got an impression that this same festival in Bangkok is an mixture of Buddhism and Hindu.

I suppose this is actually Nine Emperor Gods festival, which is celebrated as vegetarian festival in Thailand? There are similar festivals around Thailand, but Phuket is the main place partly as we have 35% of Chines population.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Emperor_Gods_Festival

Some sources say that the festival started in Phuket 1825 when lots of people got sick and some who were vegetarians got better soon.

When the whole company grew sick from an unnamed malady, they kept to a vegetarian diet to honor two of the emperor gods, Kiew Ong Tai Teh and Yok Ong Sone Teh. The sickness afflicting the opera troupe then disappeared. This greatly interested the people of Kathu, who asked how it was done. The answer came that ritual vegetarianism with its attendant ceremonies had been the cause, with the result that people embraced the faith enthusiastically. Thus the festival began:starting the first evening of the ninth lunar month, it continued until the ninth evening; the aim was to bring good luck to individuals as well as to the community.

http://www.phuketvegetarian.com/phuketvegetarian-eng/phuketvegetarian-history.htm

I'm confused of this, but I think that's more like an norm here in Thailand

[Sydneycraig]

[Sydneycraig]

[Sydneycraig]

These were all yesterday ... Plenty more of the same from this morning.

[steelepulse]

What types of drugs are these people on when they're in those trances?

[Guest]

Wow. Great photos. I got goose bumps.

Do you have these photos somewhere with public access? I'd like to show these to my friends back home as well.

[hansgruber]

What types of drugs are these people on when they're in those trances?

Garden veriety meth.