Vegetarian Festival 2024, officially known as Nine Emperor Gods Festival (九皇勝會 / เทศกาลกินเจ), will take place for 10 days from 2 – 11 October 2024. Starting from the eve to the ninth day of the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, devotees will observe a vegetarian diet as a form of body purification and a host of performances, processions and rituals will be held in commemoration of the event. The Taoist festival was brought into Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore by Chinese immigrants hundreds of years ago and has since been integrated into Thailand’s culture. It is celebrated across various parts of the country, notably in Phuket and Bangkok.
Religious and celebratory activities of the Jae Festival (as it is known in Thai) are the most intense in Phuket. To purify their souls, devotees participate in processions with piercings through their mouths and walk over hot coals, on top of keeping a vegetarian diet during this period. These activities are held at over 30 Taoist shrines across the province, and these are some of the popular ones:
The festival is celebrated mostly in Bangkok’s Chinatown, Yaowarat. Preparations will start as early as one week before the event where yellow banners and flags will be placed prominently in the precinct. Religious rituals and activities revolve around the Kwang Tung Shine located just opposite one of the MRT station’s exits.
Shopping malls in Bangkok will hold food fairs throughout the festival, offering vegetarian and vegan dishes in a variety of international cuisines. One can find vegetarian food of various cuisines, ranging from Chinese, Thai, Western, to Halal at these major food fairs.
Watch this page for updates on the festival and events that will be held during this period.
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