tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17479961.post-81164796946169888552007-09-20T09:21:00.000+07:002007-09-20T09:41:39.618+07:00<img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; width: 313px; height: 222px;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_ZuFUmJUF7fE/RvHdLjSOIwI/AAAAAAAAAXU/8Ms_ldNOhHY/s320/Phuket_Vegetarian_Festival.jpg" alt="Phuket Vegetarian Festival " title="Phuket Vegetarian Festival " id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112110242562188034" border="0" />One of the famous year event of Phuket Island [South of Thailand], is the <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://www.excelloz.com/Travel_guide/Phuket/Phuket_Vegetarian_Festival_2007.html" title="Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2007">Phuket Vegetarian Festival</a> (or jia chai in local Hokkien Chinese dialect) during the period of October, 11 to 19, 2007. The ceremonial is during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar.<h4>Parade times to be announced, 12 - 18 October 2007</h4>October 12, 2007 : Sapam Shrine<br />October 13, 2007 : Samkong Shrine<br />October 14, 2007 : Ban Tha Rve Shrine<br />October 15, 2007 : Bang Neow Shrine, Cherng Thalay Shrine<br />October 16, 2007 : Jui Tui Shrine<br />October 17, 2007 : Kathu Shrine, Yokkekeng Shrine<br />October 18, 2007 : Sui Boon Tong Shrine<br /><br />During the 10-day event, participants stick to a strict vegetarian diet which is believed to spiritually cleanse the soul of devotees. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www.excelloz.com/Asia/Thailand/Phuket.html" title="Phuket Hotels">Phuket</a>’s annual Vegetarian Festival dates back to 1825 when a touring opera company were struck down with illnesses and only cured of their maladies by a vegetarian diet. The festival has taken place every year ever since beginning on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and continuing until the ninth evening.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; width: 305px; height: 221px;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_ZuFUmJUF7fE/RvHdTTSOIxI/AAAAAAAAAXc/jP53N9m-vIU/s320/Vegetarian_Food.jpg" alt="Vegetarian Foods" title="Vegetarian Foods" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112110375706174226" border="0" />The <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);" href="http://kin-jay.blogspot.com/2006/09/10-rules-for-vegetarian-festival-in.html" title=" 10 Rules for The Vegetarian Festival in Thailand">vegetarian festival</a> marks the start of a period of purification. Those involved come prepared after six days of abstention from meat, alcohol and sex. The stranger ceremonies date back to the mid-19th century when a traveling Chinese opera company fell gravely ill. Fearing that they had let down their Gods, the actors performed self-mutilator rites in an effort to cure themselves. It is also celebrated by devout Chinese all over the world, although the Phuket island's five temples are the most famous venues for the strange tradition.Travelkamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00479494410898685217noreply@blogger.com