The Phuket Vegetarian Festival
is an annual event held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar.
It is believed that the vegetarian festival and its accompanying sacred rituals
bestow good fortune upon those who religiously observe this rite. During this
time, local residents of Chinese ancestry strictly observe a 10-day vegetarian
or vegan diet for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit-making. Sacred
rituals are performed at various Chinese shrines and temples and aesthetic displays
such as walking barefooted over hot coals and ascending ladders with bladed rungs
are performed by entranced devotees known as "Ma Song".
The Vegetarian Festival
or "jia chai" in the local Hokkien Chinese dialect is believed to have
been observed in Phuket since 1825 when the Governor of Thalang, Praya Jerm moved
the island's principal town was moved from Ta Reua District to Get-Hoe in Kathu
District, in which Phuket's tin mines were located and Chinese immigrants had
settled.
Legend has it that during
the time, a popular Chinese opera company (called "ngiu" in Thai or
"pua hee" in the Hokkien dialect) that was on tour stopped in Phuket
to perform for the miners fell. The troupe soon fell ill with an undiagnosed fever
and resorted to a strict vegetarian diet in honour the emperor gods Kiew Ong Tai
Teh and Yok Ong Song Teh, in the belief that by doing so good health would be
restored. For nine days and nights while homage is paid to the Emperor Gods and
Star Deities, followers abstain from meat, alcohol and sex. The performers did
indeed speedily regain their health leaving the Chinese community in awe and eager
to learn more about this natural healing phenomenon.
The opera performers accredited
their speedy and miraculous recovery to the observation of a strict vegetarian
diet and the faith they held in the accompanying sacred rituals and ceremonies.
The locals fervently embraced this new faith.
THE
ORIGINS OF THE RITUALS
An emissary well-versed in the tradition subsequently volunteered to return to
Kansai in China, where he invited the sacred "Hiao Ho-le or Hiao Ian"
incense smoke and "Lian Tui" name plaques, symbolic of the gods, to
reside in Kathu. He also brought back holy writings used in the ceremonies. The
emissary arrived back in Phuket on the seventh night of the ninth month. Upon
hearing of his arrival, the local community went in procession to Bang Niao Pier
to bid him welcome. Since then, the procession has become a key component of the
rituals.
The afternoon before the
festival begins, a great pole known as the "Go Teng Pole"
is erected in the grounds of the Chinese shrines and temples. It is believed that
the pole provides the means for the gods to descend to earth. At midnight, nine
lanterns are hung on the pole to mark the commencement of the fest and two
important gods - Yok Ong Hong Tae and Kiew Ong Tai The - are invited down
to preside over the ceremonies.
There are other ceremonies
throughout the fest notably the invocation of the gods
"Lam Tao" who watches of the living, and "Pak Tao" the keeper
of the Dead; processions of the image of the gods, and feats of the "Ma Song"
devotees.
The "Ma Song" are believed to possess supernatural powers when they
enter a state of trance as the gods take over their bodies during the ritual.
The sacred rituals and aesthetic displays are performed to shift evil from others
onto themselves and in doing so, good luck is bestowed on the community.
During the festival, the
din of fireworks and drums is a common feature of the
ceremonies performed as it is believed that the loud noise drives away evil spirits.
The festival ends with merit-making
ceremonies being held at each of the temples.
A ritual known as "sadoh kroh" or casting away bad fortune, and the
send-off of
the gods which is accompanied by impressive firework displays on the last night.
Those who observe the ritual
adhere to a strict vegetarian diet for a varying number of days, generally no
less than three. Devotees are also expected to observe some strict guidelines
such as to avoid the slaughter of animals, cease consumption of meat and refrain
from all vice. This brings about good health, well-being and inner peace.
Rules to be observed
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Please
click on the map to expand
Phone:
Kathu Shrine 202 245
Jutui Shrine 213 243
Bang Neow Shrine 212 982
Cherng Talay Shrine 01-477-0135
Sui Boon Tong Shrine 213 862
Samkong Shrine 254 124
Yok Ek Eng Shrine 224 218
October
16 (Tuesday)
THE LANTERN POLE RAISING CEREMONY
Kathu
Shrine
| 17:00 |
The Lantern Pole Raising
Ceremony |
| 00:00 |
Siva and Nine Emperor
Gods Propitation |
Jui
Tui Shrine
| 17:09 |
The Lantern
Pole Raising Ceremony |
| 23:09 |
Siva and Nine
Emperor Gods Propitation |
Bang
Neow Shrine
| 17:00 |
The Lantern
Pole Raising Ceremony |
| 22:00 |
Siva Propitiation
|
| 23:00 |
Nine Emperor
Gods Propitation at Saphan Hin |
Sui
Boon Tong Shrine
| 16:00 |
The Lantern
Pole Raising Ceremony |
| 00:00 |
Siva and Nine
Emperor Gods Propitation |
Ban
Tha Rue Shrine
| 17:00 |
The Lantern
Pole Raising Ceremony |
| 00:00 |
Siva and Nine
Emperor Gods Propitation |
Samkong
Shrine
| 17:45 |
The Lantern
Pole Raising Ceremony |
| 00:00 |
Siva and Nine
Emperor Gods Propitation |
Cherng
Talay Shrine
| 16:59 |
The Lantern Pole Raising
Ceremony |
| 21:09 |
Siva Propitation |
| 23:59 |
Nine Emperor Gods Propitation
|
Yok
Ek Eng Shrine
| 17:00 |
The Lantern
Pole Raising Ceremony |
| 22:30 |
Siva Propitation
|
| 00:00 |
Nine Emperor
Gods Propitation |
Sapam
Shrine
| 15:45 |
The Lantern
Pole Raising Ceremony |
| 00:00 |
Siva and Nine
Emperor Gods Propitation |
October
17 (Wednesday)
THE FIRST DAY OF THE FESTIVAL
| 05:00 - 18:00 |
Worship of
the Gods |
For details of the programme
at each of the shrines from October 18 through to 24, 2001, please contact the
shrines directly.
Phone:
Kathu Shrine 202 245
Jutui Shrine 213 243
Bang Neow Shrine 212 982
Cherng Talay Shrine 01-477-0135
Sui Boon Tong Shrine 213 862
Samkong Shrine 254 124
Yok Ek Eng Shrine 224 218
October
25 (Thursday)
THE LAST DAY OF THE FESTIVAL
Kathu
Shrine
| 05:00 |
Worship of
the Gods |
| 09:30 |
Random selection
to find servants to the priests in the next festival |
| 15:00 |
Fire-walking
|
| 16:00 |
Food offering
to the warriors |
| 18:00 |
Worship of
the Gods |
| 20:00 |
Bridge Crossing
for purification |
| 00:00 |
Farewell to
Siva, the nine Emperor Gods and the deities of Life and Death |
Jui
Tui Shrine
| 15:09 |
Food offering
to the warriors |
| 23:09 |
Farewell to
Siva |
| 23:45 |
Farewell to
the nine Emperor Gods Bang |
Bang
Neow Shrine
| 15:00 |
Food offering
to the warriors |
| 18:00 |
Bridge Crossing
for purification |
| 22:00 |
Farewell to
the nine Emperor Gods |
Sui
Boon Tong Shrine
| 07:00 |
Street procession
in Phuket Town |
| 08:00 |
Worship of
the Gods |
| 21:00 |
Bridge Crossing
for purification |
| 00:00 |
Farewell to
Siva and the nine Emperor Gods |
Ban
Tha Rue Shrine
| 17:30 |
Food offering
to the warriors |
| 20:00 |
Bridge Crossing
for purification and farewell to Siva and
the nine Emperor Gods at Nai Yang beach |
Samkong
Shrine
| 05:30 |
Worship of
the Gods |
| 15:09 |
Food offering
to the warriors |
| 19:00 |
Bridge Crossing
for purification |
| 23:09 |
Farewell to
Siva |
| 00:00 |
Farewell to
the nine Emperor Gods at Saphan Hin |
Cherng
Talay Shrine
| 05:30 |
Worship of
the Gods |
| 15:00 |
Food offering
to the warriors |
| 18:30 |
Bridge Crossing
for purification |
| 21:30 |
Farewell to
Siva |
| 22:09 |
Farewell to
the nine Emperor Gods at Surin Beach |
Yok
Ek Eng Shrine
| 07:30 |
Worship of
the Gods |
| 15:30 |
Food offering
to the warriors |
| 18:00 |
Bridge Crossing
for purification |
| 22:30 |
Farewell to
Siva |
| 00:00 |
Farewell to
the nine Emperor Gods at Koh Sirey Beach |
Sapam
Shrine
| 19:45 |
Bridge Crossing
for purification |
| 22:45 |
Farewell to
Siva and the nine Emperor Gods |
October
26 (Friday)
THE FINAL DAY OF THE FESTIVAL
Kathu
Shrine
| 17:00 |
The Lantern
Pole Lowering |
| 17:30 |
Warriors farewell
|
Jui
Tui Shrine
| 17:09
|
The Lantern
Pole Lowering |
Bang
Neow Shrine
| 15:00 |
Food offering
for the warriors and Lantern Pole Lowering |
Ban
Tha Rue Shrine
| 16:45 |
The Lantern
Pole Lowering |
Samkong
Shrine
| 17:09 |
The Lantern
Pole Lowering |
Cherng
Talay Shrine
| 16:30 |
Food offering for the warriors
|
| 17:00 |
The Lantern Pole Lowering
|
Yok
Ek Eng Shrine
| 16:00 |
Food offering for the
warriors |
| 16:19 |
The Lantern Pole Lowering
|
Sapam
Shrine
| 15:45 |
Food offering for the
warriors |
| 17:45 |
The Lantern Pole Lowering
|
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Phone
