Bangkok (VNA) - Hundreds of worshippers, mainlyfrom the local Chinese community, flocked to temples to celebrate the annualvegetarian festival on the island of Phuket in southern Thailand, which resumedthis week after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of the festival, the devotees give up meat, sex andalcohol in the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar to achieve good healthand peace of mind, in a tradition that goes back 150 years.
They also pierce their faces and walk over hot coals to showrespect to their gods.
The vegetarian festival originated in Amphoe Kathu town onthe island about 150 years ago. It is said that when a Chinese troupe came tothis area and became seriously ill, they decided to go vegetarian and proceedwith the vegetarian diet, and worship rituals for the Nine Emperor Gods. Thenthey were cured. Since then, they have maintained vegetarianism as a way ofworshiping and expressing gratitude to the gods./.
As part of the festival, the devotees give up meat, sex andalcohol in the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar to achieve good healthand peace of mind, in a tradition that goes back 150 years.
They also pierce their faces and walk over hot coals to showrespect to their gods.
The vegetarian festival originated in Amphoe Kathu town onthe island about 150 years ago. It is said that when a Chinese troupe came tothis area and became seriously ill, they decided to go vegetarian and proceedwith the vegetarian diet, and worship rituals for the Nine Emperor Gods. Thenthey were cured. Since then, they have maintained vegetarianism as a way ofworshiping and expressing gratitude to the gods./.
VNA
