PM invites all Thais to observe vegetarian festival



BANGKOK: -- As the annual vegetarian festival or locally known as "Kin Jae" is just five days away, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday invited all Thais to participate in the festival and correspondingly help to promote tourism in the country during the period.

Government spokesman Maj Gen Sansern Kaeokamnerd said that the invitation to all Thais came as the government will be making a nationwide invitation to all Thais to participate in observing religious precepts and abstain from eating meat during the vegetarian festival.

The festival will take place throughout the entire country from October 13-21 and officials are regarding this as an opportune moment for the public to do good and make merit for the entire nine days of the festival.

He said the festival will also allow opportunity to introduce foreign visitors to another aspect of the country’s beautiful culture which will in turn greatly benefit tourism for the country.

Expectations are that this year’s festival will see high numbers of attendance from visitors from Thailand’s close neighbors and the prime minister has asked all Thais to adopt the role of a benevolent host and welcome visitors warmly, he said.

The spokesman also said official response to the recent attempts by certain groups to derail the festival by spreading false rumors with regards to personal safety is to officially guarantee that all the personnel involved such as the military, police and the civilian population are united in ensuring the welfare of all visitors.

He assured that the government is confident that all Thais will play their part and keep a careful eye on the festivities.

He added that should any suspicious activities be sighted then the public is urged to promptly report the matter to authorities so that immediate action can be taken.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-invites-all-thais-to-observe-vegetarian-festival


-- Thai PBS 2015-10-09

Lets see how many Thais attend

Should be a over flow in the yards... Thais are all happy now

Is an "Invite to observe vegetarian festival" similar to an "Invite to Attitude Adjustment" or do I have a choice to have steak if I want?

Most of the food there last year was deep fried anyway.. not sure how that's supposed to be healthier for you.

Lets see how many Thais attend

Should be a over flow in the yards... Thais are all happy now

Showing his roots…. and probable allegiance. The festival started in Phuket a century and a half ago, among Chinese immigrants. It is part of the diversity of culture in Thailand, but there is nothing "Thai" about the festival.

Most of the food there last year was deep fried anyway.. not sure how that's supposed to be healthier for you.

Anyone expecting a celebration of a healthy vegetarian lifestyle is going to be disappointed; it has never been about that..

It is about existing on bland vegan food, and abstaining from other pleasures to pay homage to Chinese gods for the duration of the festival. Once the spirits are sent on their way on the last evening of the festival, an orgy of indulgence begins.

^Yep. After 10 days of "jae", the "exotic" endangered species restaurants are heaving.

I though we lived in Thailand and not China.

All Buddhists should be vegetarian all year long , like the Buddha teaches. But the Thai can barely keep it up for the vegetarian festival and stuff their face with dead corpses as soon as possible. It's a "religion" of hypocrites.

Now go to the Wat and do merrit for your good fortune ( and the right lottery numbers).

Most of the food there last year was deep fried anyway.. not sure how that's supposed to be healthier for you.

Bangkok post quoted the other day that food tested to be used in the festval was contaminated with animal DNA so Im glad Prayut has this problem solved .

Is an "Invite to observe vegetarian festival" similar to an "Invite to Attitude Adjustment" or do I have a choice to have steak if I want?

Not a Thai beef steak I assume. If it is, you can have a mouthful now and still be chewing it when the festival ends.

He's starting to remind me of Uncle Mao.

Vegetarian it is.

But Healthy for sure not, Fried food in abundance, heavily salted food, over sugary dishes....

And of course , Soy Sauce which is basically brown salt.......

Avoid at all costs for sure...

MSG Meat Subsititute Growth

You Tofu some of the people Summer the time

Hugh Grant Slyam all of the peephole Hourly time

Yet Hugh Khvnt fail all of the pupils all of the thyme

Knot at chew the long corn un purser tea

MSG Meat Subsititute Growth

You Tofu some of the people Summer the time

Hugh Grant Slyam all of the peephole Hourly time

Yet Hugh Khvnt fail all of the pupils all of the thyme

Knot at chew the long corn un purser tea

I'll second that!