The 2017 Phuket Vegetarian Festival Festival was held from nineteen - 29 October. The engagement changes slightly every yr equally it's based on the Chinese lunar calendar. For 2018 it volition endure 8 - eighteen Oct 2018. It's my favourite fourth dimension of year, together with it's non because of the food. I am sure non a vegetarian, though I endeavor to stick to "the diet" during the festival, pregnant no meat, no alcohol, no dairy, no onion or garlic, no eggs. Over the years on this blog, I have got posted many many times nigh the festival. At to the lowest degree ane ship per yr since 2006, some years with multiple posts. I dearest it! The 2017 festival was really different, because the Thai King passed away final yr together with the funeral together with cremation rituals took house inwards piece of cake Oct 2017. The cremation was on 26th October. The festival inwards 2017 had no piercing or firecrackers, no large morn processions. Only the final nighttime went ahead equally planned on 28th October. I mostly ignored it this year, but volition endure dorsum with a bang inwards 2018!
Recent Phuket Vegetarian Festival Blog Posts
• 2016 Phuket Vegetarian Festival Photos
• 2015 Phuket Vegetarian Festival Part 1
• The Crazy Last Night of the Festival
• Vegetarian Festival 2014 (Part 1)
• Vegetarian Festival 2014 (Part 2)
• Vegetarian Festival 2014 (Part 3)
• Street Procession from Jui Tui shrine inwards Phuket Town (October 11th 2013)
• Kathu Shrine - Early Morning Procession (October twelfth 2013)
• Vegetarian Festival - The Food
• Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012 Photos / Blog
• Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2018 Schedule
It's non for everyone. If y'all know nigh the festival, you'll know why... some people dearest it, some moan nigh the street processions blocking traffic for a calendar week (around Phuket Town, truthful enough), some consider it to endure "just a present for tourists" (very untrue), together with lots of people are turned off yesteryear the to a greater extent than bloody aspects of the festival. The festival has a long, long history. This is non a show, non a fake. The history, the tradition together with the observe for the festival alongside the local people is plainly to see. Just to endure clear, non all local people acquire involved. The vegetarian festival is based on Chinese beliefs together with the participants are by together with large from Phuket's Chinese-Thai community which makes upwards roughly 30% of the population. Most of the participating shrines are inwards together with roughly Phuket Town or Thalang, the two former centers of Phuket.
(above) Prayers together with Respect - Kathu hamlet shrine exterior Phuket Town is ane of the master copy centers for the vegetarian festival. Dressed all inwards white, local people demeanor incense at the start of the burn walking ceremony.
Why exercise I dearest this festival thus much? You know, the root yoke of years I was inwards Phuket, I saw almost null of the existent local life, knew null of the history of Phuket .. I simply dived together with hung roughly with diving people, went out to bars together with never went out to explore the island. The root fourth dimension I saw anything of this festival was inwards nigh 2003, driving into Phuket Town to pay my tax, together with got stuck inwards traffic caused yesteryear some damn local street procession! Over the years nosotros have got enjoyed exploring Phuket together with the surrounding expanse together with discovering novel dorsum roads together with novel events. And I have got read a lot nigh the history together with traditions here. The vegetarian festival is celebrated inwards other parts of Thailand where at that spot are Chinese-Thai communities, but Phuket is where it started dorsum inwards nigh 1825, likely a fleck after than that, nobody just knows!
(above) Kathu shrine is my "local". We alive nigh a mile from former Kathu hamlet where the shrine is located. Kathu is truly where the history of the festival began, beingness the centre of the tin mining nail which attracted many Chinese people to Phuket inwards the 19th century. I similar to caput to the shrine at whatever fourth dimension during the festival to "people watch". I dearest the atmosphere. Everyone is dressed inwards white. I hateful non everyone inwards Phuket, but roughly the shrines, pretty much everyone. In the weeks earlier the festival, shops are selling the white clothes. It's a sign of purity. I similar to see the shrines to grab a glimpse of the tradition of the festival. On the root hateful solar daytime (see below) the Go Teng pole is raised to allow the spirits of the Emperor Gods to acquire into the shrine.
And together with thus the street processions begin. Every hateful solar daytime for a week. Each hateful solar daytime with participants from dissimilar shrines. And this is where things acquire weird. Shrines, candles, prayers, traditions... together with self mutilation together with extreme piercing. By their suffering does the whole town have proficient luck together with blessings for the year. Purification yesteryear eating the correct food, yesteryear wearing white together with yesteryear sticking abrupt objects inwards your face. If y'all have got non seen this before, it's a shock. It's also a photographers paradise! Well, I am non a pro photographer, but during the festival I volition have got hundreds of pictures. Trying to select simply a few for this weblog is hard! You tin observe lots of photos on Flickr - come across Vegetarian Festival 2010 - Vegetarian Festival 2009.
(above) Vegetarian Festival procession carrying statues of the gods led yesteryear the "Ma Song" who have got allow the spirits of the gods acquire into their bodies. Some of these Ma Song are quite freaky. I have got been upwards unopen inwards the shrines together with inwards the streets. I exercise non believe they are pretending. Well, non all of them!
Sorry should have got warned that was coming.. The Ma Song higher upwards walks the streets cutting himself with an axe. I wouldn't become thus far equally to tell that I dearest the blood, but it all adds to the intensity of the experience. I endeavor to acquire to some shrines early on inwards the morning, similar half dozen - 7am earlier they start their processions. Photography a fleck harder inwards the dim early on morn light, but this is when the piercing takes place. The blood is fresh.... anyone who wants to vomit straightaway should become search for a photograph of a funny cat. Don't come upwards dorsum simply yet .. it gets worse. Too late.
If y'all become together with sentry whatever of the processions or early on morn goings-on at the shrines, similar I said, if y'all have got non seen this before, y'all powerfulness endure shocked. In fact I am withal shocked. Swords inwards your cheek? No thanks! Oh, come upwards on, simply a modest one... or an umbrella? Sometimes I don't know where to look. One pair of eyes, ane camera. Many times I "miss" a photograph opportunity. I endeavor to have got equally many pictures equally possible. Some volition endure proficient together with it's truthful - meliorate photographic television camera = meliorate photos. Last yoke of years I was using a Canon EOS 20D - hoping to acquire a newer model earlier September. Getting a truly proficient photograph hither y'all request to acquire into the shrines or walk along with the processions together with acquire involved, acquire close. Watching from the side of the road, difficult to acquire a decent photo. Last year, when the Bang Neow shrine inwards Phuket Town had it's procession, I was running roughly inwards the Sun for two hours, getting covered inwards firecrackers together with loving it!
(above) inwards Phuket Town, carrying the gods through a constant barrage of firecrackers. Only the bravest local lads sign upwards for god-carrying duty! I similar to follow them through the deafening vibrations together with choking smoke trying to acquire a proficient photo!
(above) Statues of the gods beingness carried through Kathu hamlet - tin acquire a fleck crazy inwards Phuket Town. The two master copy shrines inwards town are Bang Neow together with Jui Tui. On the days when they have got their processions, the crowds are at their largest. In Kathu it's much easier to acquire a photo, non thus many people roughly early on morn equally they laid about walking to town, which is nigh 6km away.
The banana guy is also a local policeman. For weeks after the festival I come across local guys with fresh scars! The scar tissue is oft quite obvious particularly on those who have got been participating for many years. Old together with immature have got part. The tradition is passed down, though at that spot is the suspicion that some youngsters powerfulness endure doing it for the street cred. And at that spot seems to endure a score of contest - who tin exercise the biggest or most bizarre piercing.. Some examples:
(above) The classic "gun inwards face" style.
(above) four swords. Beat that.
8 swords. I give thank y'all you. Meanwhile, the immature generation sentry together with learn.
Young Rambo (above) carrying firecrackers.. or mayhap his Mum had plenty of him. "If y'all don't halt that, I'll calorie-free those firecrackers!" - together with below - respect.
I dearest the tradition, the history, the firecrackers, the craziness, the street processions, the prayers at the shrines, the nutrient is worth a endeavor too. I dearest the agency the local community comes together. The Phuket vegetarian festival is my favourite affair inwards Phuket!
Map of Chinese Shrines
View Phuket Chinese Shrines inwards a larger map Sumber http://jamie-monk.blogspot.com
Recent Phuket Vegetarian Festival Blog Posts
• 2016 Phuket Vegetarian Festival Photos
• 2015 Phuket Vegetarian Festival Part 1
• The Crazy Last Night of the Festival
• Vegetarian Festival 2014 (Part 1)
• Vegetarian Festival 2014 (Part 2)
• Vegetarian Festival 2014 (Part 3)
• Street Procession from Jui Tui shrine inwards Phuket Town (October 11th 2013)
• Kathu Shrine - Early Morning Procession (October twelfth 2013)
• Vegetarian Festival - The Food
• Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012 Photos / Blog
• Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2018 Schedule
It's non for everyone. If y'all know nigh the festival, you'll know why... some people dearest it, some moan nigh the street processions blocking traffic for a calendar week (around Phuket Town, truthful enough), some consider it to endure "just a present for tourists" (very untrue), together with lots of people are turned off yesteryear the to a greater extent than bloody aspects of the festival. The festival has a long, long history. This is non a show, non a fake. The history, the tradition together with the observe for the festival alongside the local people is plainly to see. Just to endure clear, non all local people acquire involved. The vegetarian festival is based on Chinese beliefs together with the participants are by together with large from Phuket's Chinese-Thai community which makes upwards roughly 30% of the population. Most of the participating shrines are inwards together with roughly Phuket Town or Thalang, the two former centers of Phuket.
(above) Prayers together with Respect - Kathu hamlet shrine exterior Phuket Town is ane of the master copy centers for the vegetarian festival. Dressed all inwards white, local people demeanor incense at the start of the burn walking ceremony.
Why exercise I dearest this festival thus much? You know, the root yoke of years I was inwards Phuket, I saw almost null of the existent local life, knew null of the history of Phuket .. I simply dived together with hung roughly with diving people, went out to bars together with never went out to explore the island. The root fourth dimension I saw anything of this festival was inwards nigh 2003, driving into Phuket Town to pay my tax, together with got stuck inwards traffic caused yesteryear some damn local street procession! Over the years nosotros have got enjoyed exploring Phuket together with the surrounding expanse together with discovering novel dorsum roads together with novel events. And I have got read a lot nigh the history together with traditions here. The vegetarian festival is celebrated inwards other parts of Thailand where at that spot are Chinese-Thai communities, but Phuket is where it started dorsum inwards nigh 1825, likely a fleck after than that, nobody just knows!
(above) Kathu shrine is my "local". We alive nigh a mile from former Kathu hamlet where the shrine is located. Kathu is truly where the history of the festival began, beingness the centre of the tin mining nail which attracted many Chinese people to Phuket inwards the 19th century. I similar to caput to the shrine at whatever fourth dimension during the festival to "people watch". I dearest the atmosphere. Everyone is dressed inwards white. I hateful non everyone inwards Phuket, but roughly the shrines, pretty much everyone. In the weeks earlier the festival, shops are selling the white clothes. It's a sign of purity. I similar to see the shrines to grab a glimpse of the tradition of the festival. On the root hateful solar daytime (see below) the Go Teng pole is raised to allow the spirits of the Emperor Gods to acquire into the shrine.
And together with thus the street processions begin. Every hateful solar daytime for a week. Each hateful solar daytime with participants from dissimilar shrines. And this is where things acquire weird. Shrines, candles, prayers, traditions... together with self mutilation together with extreme piercing. By their suffering does the whole town have proficient luck together with blessings for the year. Purification yesteryear eating the correct food, yesteryear wearing white together with yesteryear sticking abrupt objects inwards your face. If y'all have got non seen this before, it's a shock. It's also a photographers paradise! Well, I am non a pro photographer, but during the festival I volition have got hundreds of pictures. Trying to select simply a few for this weblog is hard! You tin observe lots of photos on Flickr - come across Vegetarian Festival 2010 - Vegetarian Festival 2009.
(above) Vegetarian Festival procession carrying statues of the gods led yesteryear the "Ma Song" who have got allow the spirits of the gods acquire into their bodies. Some of these Ma Song are quite freaky. I have got been upwards unopen inwards the shrines together with inwards the streets. I exercise non believe they are pretending. Well, non all of them!
Sorry should have got warned that was coming.. The Ma Song higher upwards walks the streets cutting himself with an axe. I wouldn't become thus far equally to tell that I dearest the blood, but it all adds to the intensity of the experience. I endeavor to acquire to some shrines early on inwards the morning, similar half dozen - 7am earlier they start their processions. Photography a fleck harder inwards the dim early on morn light, but this is when the piercing takes place. The blood is fresh.... anyone who wants to vomit straightaway should become search for a photograph of a funny cat. Don't come upwards dorsum simply yet .. it gets worse. Too late.
If y'all become together with sentry whatever of the processions or early on morn goings-on at the shrines, similar I said, if y'all have got non seen this before, y'all powerfulness endure shocked. In fact I am withal shocked. Swords inwards your cheek? No thanks! Oh, come upwards on, simply a modest one... or an umbrella? Sometimes I don't know where to look. One pair of eyes, ane camera. Many times I "miss" a photograph opportunity. I endeavor to have got equally many pictures equally possible. Some volition endure proficient together with it's truthful - meliorate photographic television camera = meliorate photos. Last yoke of years I was using a Canon EOS 20D - hoping to acquire a newer model earlier September. Getting a truly proficient photograph hither y'all request to acquire into the shrines or walk along with the processions together with acquire involved, acquire close. Watching from the side of the road, difficult to acquire a decent photo. Last year, when the Bang Neow shrine inwards Phuket Town had it's procession, I was running roughly inwards the Sun for two hours, getting covered inwards firecrackers together with loving it!
(above) inwards Phuket Town, carrying the gods through a constant barrage of firecrackers. Only the bravest local lads sign upwards for god-carrying duty! I similar to follow them through the deafening vibrations together with choking smoke trying to acquire a proficient photo!
(above) Statues of the gods beingness carried through Kathu hamlet - tin acquire a fleck crazy inwards Phuket Town. The two master copy shrines inwards town are Bang Neow together with Jui Tui. On the days when they have got their processions, the crowds are at their largest. In Kathu it's much easier to acquire a photo, non thus many people roughly early on morn equally they laid about walking to town, which is nigh 6km away.
The banana guy is also a local policeman. For weeks after the festival I come across local guys with fresh scars! The scar tissue is oft quite obvious particularly on those who have got been participating for many years. Old together with immature have got part. The tradition is passed down, though at that spot is the suspicion that some youngsters powerfulness endure doing it for the street cred. And at that spot seems to endure a score of contest - who tin exercise the biggest or most bizarre piercing.. Some examples:
(above) The classic "gun inwards face" style.
(above) four swords. Beat that.
8 swords. I give thank y'all you. Meanwhile, the immature generation sentry together with learn.
Young Rambo (above) carrying firecrackers.. or mayhap his Mum had plenty of him. "If y'all don't halt that, I'll calorie-free those firecrackers!" - together with below - respect.
I dearest the tradition, the history, the firecrackers, the craziness, the street processions, the prayers at the shrines, the nutrient is worth a endeavor too. I dearest the agency the local community comes together. The Phuket vegetarian festival is my favourite affair inwards Phuket!
Map of Chinese Shrines
View Phuket Chinese Shrines inwards a larger map Sumber http://jamie-monk.blogspot.com