ไทย
Phuket – On October 4, 2024, at the 72nd Anniversary Queen Sirikit Park (Dragon Courtyard), Mr. Ekanat Promphan, Minister of Industry, presided over the ceremony for the launch of the parade held in honor of His Majesty the King as part of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2024. The event was attended by Mr. Sophon Suwannarat, Phuket Governor; Mr. Rewat Areerob, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PPAO); Mr. Saroj Angkhanapilas, Phuket City Mayor; Mr. Kittiwong Chansattham, President of the Phuket Shrine Association; the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2024 Organizing Committee; as well as civil servants, students, merchants, and the general public from various professions and sectors.
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival this year is being held from October 3 to 11, 2024, spanning 9 days and 9 nights. Participants are required to wear white clothing, observe precepts, practice meditation, cleanse their bodies, and purify their minds. This is considered an act of worship to the deities and sacred beings who have bestowed blessings upon humankind. Therefore, it is deemed appropriate for people to conduct themselves virtuously, abstain from evil, and maintain a clean and pure mind.
In this regard, the organizing committee expresses its deep gratitude for His Majesty the King’s benevolence toward all his subjects throughout his reign over the Kingdom of Thailand. This event has been organized to provide an opportunity for government officials, students, businesspeople, and people from all walks of life to collectively express their loyalty and to foster good relations among public agencies, private sectors, and the general public. Consequently, a grand parade has been arranged in honor of His Majesty the King. The parade route starts from the 72nd Anniversary Queen Sirikit Park (Dragon Plaza), proceeds along Phuket Road to the Clock Tower Roundabout (Surin Roundabout), and then continues to the central stage at Saphan Hin public park.
Mr. Kittiwong Chansattham, President of the Phuket Shrine Association, stated that the original “Vegetarian Festival” (known locally as “Jia Chai” by locals and Chinese residents in Phuket) is rooted in Taoism, which worships celestial deities, gods, and heroes. It is a longstanding tradition observed by the Chinese community, particularly the Hokkien Chinese. The term “Jia Chai” (eating vegetables) is a local dialect, and the ritual takes place annually from the 1st to the 9th day of the 9th lunar month according to the Chinese calendar. This tradition first started in the village of Lai Tu (present-day Ban Kathu) in Kathu Sub-district, Phuket.
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival was recognized by the Department of Cultural Promotion, Ministry of Culture, as part of the National Cultural Heritage in 2018 under the category of Religion, Traditions, and Rituals. This announcement was published in the Royal Gazette, Volume 135, Special Edition 149 Ng, Page 3, dated June 27, 2018. In this regard, the Phuket Shrine Association extends its gratitude to all parties for their support and efforts in preserving and promoting the Phuket Vegetarian Festival for future generations.
News and photos: Phuket Provincial Public Relation Office