The Vegetarian Festival in Thailand is a traditional event celebrated by the Thai-Chinese community. It is also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival and is observed during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, typically falling between September and October. The festival lasts for nine days and is especially popular in regions with a significant Chinese population, such as Bangkok, Phuket, Hat Yai and Chiang Mai.
During the Vegetarian Festival, devotees will abstain from consuming meat and other animal products, while some may even avoid consuming certain vegetables and fruits. The purpose of this abstention is to purify the body and mind and show respect to the Nine Emperor Gods, deities from Taoist mythology believed to descend to Earth during the festival.
The festival is marked by various rituals and ceremonies, including processions, temple ceremonies, distinctive face-paint parades through the streets and the piercing of the body with sharp objects. Some devotees perform acts of self-mortification, such as walking barefoot on burning coals or piercing their cheeks with swords and other items as an act of spiritual devotion and to show gratitude for blessings received.
The Vegetarian Festival is a unique cultural event that showcases the country’s diverse heritage and religious beliefs. It attracts both local and international spectators who come to witness the spectacle and experience the rich traditions and customs associated with this annual celebration.
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