A full list of events in this year’s Phuket Vegetarian Festival has been released.
During the colourful and noisy festival, from October 14 - 23, many people in Phuket will dress in white, abstain from having sex, drinking alcohol and eating meat (many will also give up “pungent” vegetables such as garlic, onions and coriander), and will pray at Chinese temples, or San Jao, and perform rituals to cleanse the spirit.
Thousands of people – mostly men, but also some women – become Maa Song, or Horses of the Gods, their bodies being “taken over” by members of the huge Chinese pantheon.
In this state they are able to accomplish remarkable feats - mostly without injury - including having objects inserted into cuts through their cheeks, lips or elsewhere on their bodies, climbing ladders made of sharp blades, walking on fire and bathing in near-boiling oil.
A major highlight of the festival are the massive processions, accompanied by drums and huge amounts of fire crackers. Significant events are:
For a fuller explanation of what the festival signifies to adherents, and for a comprehensive programme of all events, click here or get a hard copy from the TAT office on Thalang Rd.
Note that pregnant or menstruating women should not attend any of the events, nor should anyone in mourning.