Phuket’s famous annual Vegetarian Festival

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by: pennies
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The Phuket Vegetarian Festival along with its rituals is believed by many religious followers to bring good fortune. Phuket locals of Chinese descent, known as Hokkien Chinese, follow a pure vegetarian or vegan diet for 10 days for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit-making. Sacred rituals at Chinese shrines and temples across Phuket accompany all this. Stands of vegan meals are set up across Phuket City, and even convinced meat lovers will be suitably impressed by the mouth-watering selection of dishes.

Probably the most visual of these unique rituals are the extreme body piercing displays with big objects that can range from umbrellas to knives. Devotees, named ma song, might even participate in barefoot walking over glowing coals or climbing up ladders that have rungs made of knife blades. Visiting tourists can observe the seemingly being in trance ma song walking during long parades across the city’s streets on each day of the celebration.

There are several guidelines that should be followed as you appreciate watching the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. It is a must to be clean, so take a refreshing shower before you attend the festive events. Followers are dressed entirely in white, and spectators are also encouraged to do so.Visitors should refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages and eating meat. Mourning people should not attend the event and pregnant females should not watch the rituals.

The first Phuket Vegetarian Festival took place 183 years ago. This was the time that the Thalang district’s governor, Praya Jerm moved Phuket’s main town from the district of Ta Reua to Get-Hoe in Kathu. During these days Kathu was covered in jungle land and mosquito’s spread fatal diseases. When a travelling opera group arrived from China to perform for Phuket’s tin-mining islanders, they all caught fevers. The artists adopted a pure vegan diet to honour both gods: Yok Ong Sone Teh and Kiew Ong Tai Teh.

Their sicknesses disappeared, and Kathu’s people became interested in their vegan cooking and the faith that went along with it. They began the festival the first evening of the ninth lunar month, and it lasts until the ninth evening. The aim is to deliver good fortune to the individuals involved as well as to the community. One resident volunteered to return to Chinese Kansai, inviting the sacred gods to stay in Kathu. He came back on the ninth month’s seventh night and all people in town went to welcome him at the pier. This is the origin of Phuket City’s parades during the festival.

The ma song, which appear entranced, manifest supernatural powers as they are believed to be entered by the gods. They pierce their body parts and participate in other kinds of torture in order to scare evil away from themselves and from the community. It is explained the ma song fall into two categories: those who are chosen by the gods for their strong morals and those who want to extend their lives after having a bad omen of the future.

As if the scene of trances and eerie piercing activities weren’t enough, the colourful parades are bombarded with loud drums and fireworks to chase away bad spirits. At the Phuket Vegetarian Festival’s end, at each of the Chinese temples there are merit-making ceremonies and a final farewell celebration for the gods on the last night with a huge fireworks show.

About the Author

Andy Burrows has written the books on Thai culture and many articles on society-related issues. He frequently visits other regions of Thailand and never misses the fascinating Phuket Vegetarian. Andy recommends: Guide to attraction on Phuket and Phuket Vegetarian Festival