With Navratri, the bizarre Phuket Vegetarian Festival also comes to an end in Thailand

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival or the Jay Festival, is a unique and spiritually significant event that takes place in Phuket, Thailand. The extraordinary nine-day celebration occurs during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, which typically falls in either September or October, much like the Hindu Navratri festivities every year.

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What

At the heart of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is the Chinese belief that abstaining from meat and stimulants will bring about good health and peace of mind.

• The festival's rituals are both awe-inspiring and extreme, as religious devotees undertake acts of self-mortification.
• These acts include cutting themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects, and walking barefoot over hot charcoal.
• The acts are seen as purifying the devotees and symbolically taking on the sins of the community, while also warding off evil spirits and inviting prosperity for the upcoming year.

Mahsong

Participants, known as "mahsong" or "horses of the gods," firmly believe that the Chinese gods will protect them from harm during these rigorous rituals, often resulting in minimal bloodshed or scarring.

• The piercing is performed using an array of sharp objects, such as swords, spears, knives, skewers, axes, and even umbrella handles.
• Participants enter a trance-like state before their faces are pierced, making the process a fascinating spectacle for onlookers.

Food

Throughout Phuket and across Thailand, businesses and food stalls display red and yellow jay flags during the Vegetarian Festival, signifying that they serve suitable vegan food for observant participants.

• Vegan food is considered the most pure during this time.
• Food stalls offer a wide variety of Thai and Chinese dishes made without animal products, including noodle dishes, curries, and soups prepared without meat, fish sauce, eggs, or dairy.
• Realistic vegetarian meat substitutes are used, and dishes are crafted without garlic, chili, or strong spices.
• Tofu takes center stage during this festival, with many creative preparations that cater to the vegan palate.

Purity

In addition to the dietary restrictions, participants are required to maintain purity in all aspects of their lives during the festival.

• They must keep their thoughts pure and wear white clothing as a symbol of purity.
• Devotees also abstain from sex, alcohol, and stimulants throughout the festival.

Navratri parallels

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival in Thailand shares some striking similarities with Navratri and Pujo celebrations in India.

• Both festivals are deeply rooted in religious and spiritual traditions, emphasizing purification and self-discipline.
• During both events, adherents abstain from specific dietary components, with a focus on vegetarianism.
• While the Phuket Vegetarian Festival includes extreme acts of self-mortification, Navratri often involves fasting and rigorous prayer.
• Moreover, both celebrations encourage participants to wear white as a symbol of purity and practice celibacy during the festival.

In 2023, the festival was observed from October 14th to October 23rd, in exact alignment with Navratri celebrations this year as well.

With the dates for the 2024 festival already announced (October 3rd to October 11th), the Phuket Vegetarian Festival continues to be a must-visit cultural experience for anyone looking to explore the diverse and vibrant traditions of Phuket.