Many areas held grand opening ceremonies for the Vegetarian Festival. In Phuket, the Minister of Labor presided over the ceremony to raise the Ko Teng pole, inviting the nine deity lanterns to begin the Vegetarian Festival tradition. People and tourists flocked to join, expecting 15 billion baht to circulate. Yesterday evening (October 2), Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labor, presided over the ceremony to raise the Ko Teng pole and invite the nine deity lamps at the Jui Tui Tao Bokeung Shrine, Soi Phuthon, Ranong Road, Tambon Talat Nuea, Amphoe Mueang, Phuket Province, which is one of the largest and oldest shrines in Phuket Province. It symbolizes the beginning of the Vegetarian Festival tradition, which is scheduled to be held today (October 3) as the first day until October 11, 2024. Many heads of government agencies, the public and private sectors, Chinese-Thais, and tourists attended the event. In addition to the grand ceremony, there were many male and female spirit mediums who joined the ceremony and performed miracles. In particular, the male spirit medium used axes and swords, which are weapons according to Chinese legends, to pierce their bodies as symbols of taking on the suffering of those who participated in the vegetarian festival this year. This created excitement for both Thai and foreign tourists who came to join the event. And since this year's vegetarian festival coincides with the Chinese National Day, it is predicted that the Phuket tourism atmosphere will be very lively during the 9-day, 9-night vegetarian festival. Betong opens Vegetarian Festival in the rain Similarly, in Betong District, Yala Province, the southernmost part of Siam, Mr. Amphon Phongsuwan, Governor of Yala Province, presided over the worship of the gods and sacred objects of Betong City, using the area of ??the Betong City Clock Tower to organize a ceremony to announce and request permission to organize the Vegetarian Festival of Wat Phosatto Chao Mae Kuan Im Betong or Wat Kuan Im between 2-11 October 2024. The atmosphere was solemn. There was heavy rain, but it did not affect the power of faith of the Thai-Chinese people, including the performances of lions, dragons, and horse spirits who came out to perform miracles. There was also a parade of various deities around Betong for good fortune. The organization of the Vegetarian Festival here is different from other areas because there are horse spirits from Malaysia joining the event. It is considered a vegetarian festival that strengthens Thai-Malaysian relations. The Vegetarian Festival is held from the 1st to the 9th day of the 9th lunar month according to the Chinese calendar. It is considered one of the most important traditions for Thai-Chinese people, passed down from ancestors from generation to generation. It involves abstaining from eating meat, vegetables with strong smells, products made from animals, spicy food, processed food, and alcohol in order to create merit and not harm animals. Along with observing the precepts and practicing Dhamma, it resu lts in good physical health, a balanced body, and good mental health. Source: Thai News Agency
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