Every year on the first day of the ninth month of the Chinese
calendar (usually in late September or early October) islanders
of Chinese origin undertake to consume only vegetarian food for
nine days. The followers of the custom insist that by doing so,
spirit and body are cleansed; apart from that the exercise is
supposed to bring good luck in general.
On the first
day the gods, spirits and ghosts, which are fiercely believed
in, are implored upon at the different Chinese temples of the
town, to grant their merciful assistance during the festival.
After the temple ceremonies follows a procession whose participants
are all clad in white.
During the
following days so-called ascetic feats are performed.
After dark
on the fifth and sixth day, believers gather at different locations
to run over glowing charcoal. Places to watch these fire walks
are the municipal stadium on the road to Patong, as well as a
temple at the Heroines' Monument. The participants running over
glowing charcoal suffer no burns on the soles of their feet.
On the seventh
day of the Vegetarian Festival - again after dark - ladders with
rungs of sharpened blades are climbed up and down. At the Bang
Niau temple on Phuket Road, a 10-metre high ladder is used. The
number of active participants is about 40. The editors of this
database have failed to observe any climber suffering cuts on
the soles of his or her feet.
Photo: Pushing iron rods through various parts of the body
during Phuket's Vegetarian Festival
In the morning
of the eighth and ninth day there are again procession through
the entire town. Contrary to the procession of the first day,
blood is shed. Several participants pierce different parts of
their bodies with iron needles, occasionally even with four metres
long lances.
In front
of Chinese residences and shops, small altars are set up, at which
the participants of the procession make short stops to distribute
the displayed offerings to bystanders. On such an occasion the
inhabitants of the house fall on their knees and pray.
Weeks before
the festival the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) distributes
brochures detailing when exactly the various performances take
place, and where best to watch them.
