The 2011 Phuket Vegetarian Festival started 26th September inwards the eve in addition to continues until sixth October. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few days into the festival now, in addition to the street processions get got started. I get got non been to sentry 1 of these early on morn processions yet this year, mightiness create that tomorrow, in addition to volition surely move inwards town on Dominicus 2d Oct for the procession from Bang Nieow Shrine inwards Phuket Town. My parents are visiting from England in addition to they desire to run into diverse aspects of the festival, though nosotros also desire to create other things inwards in addition to some Phuket. The conditions has non been to kind. Quite a lot of pelting on the 26th in addition to 27th for the outset twain of festival days. And yet, the pelting has a habit of easing off if you lot are brave plenty to leave of absence there. On September 26th nosotros all went to Kathu Shrine (our local - most 2km from our house) for the opening ceremonies of the vegetarian festival.
At 5pm the Go Teng pole is raised over the shrine - a huge wooden pole on which is hung a bamboo branch in addition to nine lanterns. This is the "spirit pole" downward which the Emperor Gods tin descend into the shrine. Kathu is non such a busy shrine, therefore it's easier than the principal Phuket Town shrines to motion some in addition to get got photos. The pole was hauled upwards into house past times ropes in addition to past times men armed alongside forked sticks. Lo-tech, human power, alongside anyone welcome to assist delineate the ropes.. I would help, but also desire to get got photos! Here's the Go Teng pole existence raised in addition to fixed inwards place... all a fleck frantic, every bit it seems that the pole mightiness move raised in addition to and therefore autumn dorsum the other way!
The pelting held off for this purpose of the ceremony which was preceded past times a hamlet elderberry proverb prayers at a little altar side past times side to the pole. These early on days of the festival don't get got the bloody ceremonies that come upwards after although 1 Ma Song was purpose of the prayers, coming out from the shrine in addition to cutting his natural language alongside abrupt axes. Maybe a petty blood is needed to convince the gods to come!
The guy below was leading the prayers. At the fourth dimension of the pole raising he was dressed inwards to a greater extent than ceremonial clothes in addition to dancing some variety of trance-like. Not actually inwards a trance though, but it's all purpose of the ceremony. The really onetime human who I had seen the concluding twain of years leading the prayers was nowhere to move seen. I believe he may get got passed on this year. Without existence 1 of the community hither I can't order how the tradition is passed down, or why sure people are chosen to pray or chosen to move Ma Song.
The pelting did start 1 time again 1 time the pole was up. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 rigid current of air blew inwards too. Guy ropes were apace checked in addition to tightened. And people were coming inwards in addition to out of the shrine all the time, praying within in addition to taking incense exterior to bless the Go Teng Pole. The furnace but exterior the shrine is used to displace the coin for the spirits (not existent money!). Umbrellas needed to usage the furnace:
I ever bask spending a petty fourth dimension at the shrine in addition to watching people proverb their prayers. Have to remind myself that this is Phuket. The same Phuket that is total of tourists, hotels, beach chairs, bars, massage parlours, dive shops, tuk tuks in addition to tailors. That is also Phuket - that's a novel side to Phuket. Remember that the history of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival goes dorsum to 1825. I observe this side of Phuket to move far to a greater extent than interesting than the beach life. But judging past times the numbers of foreigners that I run into every twelvemonth watching the festivals, I am inwards a minority - well, this weblog is "Jamie's Phuket" - promise it tin convert a few to a greater extent than people to the REAL Phuket! Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 twain of "people watching" photos:
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 photograph below that says something most traditions in addition to how they are passed on. Kids come upwards to the shrine alongside their families from a immature age, larn scared past times firecrackers, sentry bizarre rituals, run into in addition to experience the honor afforded to the ceremonies past times the adults. When the adults pray, the children pray. The eyes below I intend agree a mixture of respect, fear, excitement in addition to bewilderment... They were watching the Ma Song alongside the axes coming out of the shrine.
These photos were all taken early on eve betwixt 5pm in addition to 6:30pm. The Go Teng pole had been raised in addition to hung alongside nine lanterns for the nine gods. I knew that something would hap at the shrine at midnight. I had non been at midnight before. Surely in that location would move some unusual rituals, wild men inwards trances in addition to bloody sacrifices for the gods? The pelting was falling 1 time again every bit nosotros drove into a black an soundless Kathu hamlet but earlier midnight. Very black in addition to silent. Er.. perhaps I was incorrect in addition to null happens at midnight? My parents came along alongside me in addition to I am supposed to know these things! As nosotros approached the shrine, the lights were on in addition to nosotros could run into activity, but it was even therefore really quiet. This midnight prayer turned out to move less dramatic that I had anticipated. No blood, no crazy possessed onetime men, but prayers, in addition to for the most purpose these prayers were the quietest in addition to most reverential that I get got seen.
It was all adults.. good perhaps a few teenagers. Mostly men. And the men were the ones leading prayers in addition to carrying incense in addition to flags inwards in addition to out of the shrine. Prayers were said within the shrine inwards front end of the altar:
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 little temporary altar was laid upwards exterior alongside incense in addition to burning wood. Prayers were said exterior in addition to the bowl of incense was surrounded alongside flags in addition to taken within past times a grouping of really devoted looking men who formed something similar a ruck some the bowl in addition to rushed it inside. This was repeated a twain of times. Prayers were said at the temporary altar exterior in addition to and therefore everyone moved inside.
Only three foreigners in that location - me, Mum in addition to Dad. Witnessing the repose prayers was quite special. We crept some similar mice. The shrine was therefore soundless during the prayers. Only the audio of 1 vocalism in addition to the sounds made when the "priest" knocked on a metallic bowl or a wooden statue. We watched from the window. The within of the shrine was pretty good packed. These prayers went on for most twenty minutes.
And in addition to therefore .. everything moved exterior 1 time again alongside to a greater extent than carrying of incense in addition to flags inwards in addition to out of the shrine. The photograph below was taken at almost 1am. I had non planned to move upwards therefore slow hanging some listening to prayers! But despite heavy eyes nosotros did non desire to leave of absence but yet. On the other hand, this could become on all nighttime ...
Finally the relative quiet of these slow nighttime prayers was broken past times firecrackers. You can't get got a Chinese festival without firecrackers. At times during the vegetarian festival you lot mightiness demand ear protection. When the processions transcend through town, long strings of firecrackers are held on bamboo poles over the statues of the gods every bit they are carried through the streets. Those carrying the gods surely create demand earplugs! Here at Kathu shrine, 1 long flare-up of bangs signalled the terminate of the ceremonies for the night.
The festival is straightaway inwards total swing. We conception to see Sam Kong shrine inwards the northward of Phuket Town tomorrow morn (30th) at 6:30am to witness some piercing in addition to the start of their procession into the pump of town, in addition to this night (29th) inwards Kathu hamlet in that location is a procession some the village. The principal street processions cash inwards one's chips on until fifth October. See you lot here! Sumber http://jamie-monk.blogspot.com
At 5pm the Go Teng pole is raised over the shrine - a huge wooden pole on which is hung a bamboo branch in addition to nine lanterns. This is the "spirit pole" downward which the Emperor Gods tin descend into the shrine. Kathu is non such a busy shrine, therefore it's easier than the principal Phuket Town shrines to motion some in addition to get got photos. The pole was hauled upwards into house past times ropes in addition to past times men armed alongside forked sticks. Lo-tech, human power, alongside anyone welcome to assist delineate the ropes.. I would help, but also desire to get got photos! Here's the Go Teng pole existence raised in addition to fixed inwards place... all a fleck frantic, every bit it seems that the pole mightiness move raised in addition to and therefore autumn dorsum the other way!
The pelting held off for this purpose of the ceremony which was preceded past times a hamlet elderberry proverb prayers at a little altar side past times side to the pole. These early on days of the festival don't get got the bloody ceremonies that come upwards after although 1 Ma Song was purpose of the prayers, coming out from the shrine in addition to cutting his natural language alongside abrupt axes. Maybe a petty blood is needed to convince the gods to come!
The guy below was leading the prayers. At the fourth dimension of the pole raising he was dressed inwards to a greater extent than ceremonial clothes in addition to dancing some variety of trance-like. Not actually inwards a trance though, but it's all purpose of the ceremony. The really onetime human who I had seen the concluding twain of years leading the prayers was nowhere to move seen. I believe he may get got passed on this year. Without existence 1 of the community hither I can't order how the tradition is passed down, or why sure people are chosen to pray or chosen to move Ma Song.
The pelting did start 1 time again 1 time the pole was up. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 rigid current of air blew inwards too. Guy ropes were apace checked in addition to tightened. And people were coming inwards in addition to out of the shrine all the time, praying within in addition to taking incense exterior to bless the Go Teng Pole. The furnace but exterior the shrine is used to displace the coin for the spirits (not existent money!). Umbrellas needed to usage the furnace:
I ever bask spending a petty fourth dimension at the shrine in addition to watching people proverb their prayers. Have to remind myself that this is Phuket. The same Phuket that is total of tourists, hotels, beach chairs, bars, massage parlours, dive shops, tuk tuks in addition to tailors. That is also Phuket - that's a novel side to Phuket. Remember that the history of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival goes dorsum to 1825. I observe this side of Phuket to move far to a greater extent than interesting than the beach life. But judging past times the numbers of foreigners that I run into every twelvemonth watching the festivals, I am inwards a minority - well, this weblog is "Jamie's Phuket" - promise it tin convert a few to a greater extent than people to the REAL Phuket! Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 twain of "people watching" photos:
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 photograph below that says something most traditions in addition to how they are passed on. Kids come upwards to the shrine alongside their families from a immature age, larn scared past times firecrackers, sentry bizarre rituals, run into in addition to experience the honor afforded to the ceremonies past times the adults. When the adults pray, the children pray. The eyes below I intend agree a mixture of respect, fear, excitement in addition to bewilderment... They were watching the Ma Song alongside the axes coming out of the shrine.
These photos were all taken early on eve betwixt 5pm in addition to 6:30pm. The Go Teng pole had been raised in addition to hung alongside nine lanterns for the nine gods. I knew that something would hap at the shrine at midnight. I had non been at midnight before. Surely in that location would move some unusual rituals, wild men inwards trances in addition to bloody sacrifices for the gods? The pelting was falling 1 time again every bit nosotros drove into a black an soundless Kathu hamlet but earlier midnight. Very black in addition to silent. Er.. perhaps I was incorrect in addition to null happens at midnight? My parents came along alongside me in addition to I am supposed to know these things! As nosotros approached the shrine, the lights were on in addition to nosotros could run into activity, but it was even therefore really quiet. This midnight prayer turned out to move less dramatic that I had anticipated. No blood, no crazy possessed onetime men, but prayers, in addition to for the most purpose these prayers were the quietest in addition to most reverential that I get got seen.
It was all adults.. good perhaps a few teenagers. Mostly men. And the men were the ones leading prayers in addition to carrying incense in addition to flags inwards in addition to out of the shrine. Prayers were said within the shrine inwards front end of the altar:
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 little temporary altar was laid upwards exterior alongside incense in addition to burning wood. Prayers were said exterior in addition to the bowl of incense was surrounded alongside flags in addition to taken within past times a grouping of really devoted looking men who formed something similar a ruck some the bowl in addition to rushed it inside. This was repeated a twain of times. Prayers were said at the temporary altar exterior in addition to and therefore everyone moved inside.
Only three foreigners in that location - me, Mum in addition to Dad. Witnessing the repose prayers was quite special. We crept some similar mice. The shrine was therefore soundless during the prayers. Only the audio of 1 vocalism in addition to the sounds made when the "priest" knocked on a metallic bowl or a wooden statue. We watched from the window. The within of the shrine was pretty good packed. These prayers went on for most twenty minutes.
And in addition to therefore .. everything moved exterior 1 time again alongside to a greater extent than carrying of incense in addition to flags inwards in addition to out of the shrine. The photograph below was taken at almost 1am. I had non planned to move upwards therefore slow hanging some listening to prayers! But despite heavy eyes nosotros did non desire to leave of absence but yet. On the other hand, this could become on all nighttime ...
Finally the relative quiet of these slow nighttime prayers was broken past times firecrackers. You can't get got a Chinese festival without firecrackers. At times during the vegetarian festival you lot mightiness demand ear protection. When the processions transcend through town, long strings of firecrackers are held on bamboo poles over the statues of the gods every bit they are carried through the streets. Those carrying the gods surely create demand earplugs! Here at Kathu shrine, 1 long flare-up of bangs signalled the terminate of the ceremonies for the night.
The festival is straightaway inwards total swing. We conception to see Sam Kong shrine inwards the northward of Phuket Town tomorrow morn (30th) at 6:30am to witness some piercing in addition to the start of their procession into the pump of town, in addition to this night (29th) inwards Kathu hamlet in that location is a procession some the village. The principal street processions cash inwards one's chips on until fifth October. See you lot here! Sumber http://jamie-monk.blogspot.com