Phuket
Vegetarian Festival : 
During the first 9 days of the
gth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, in September or October or November, Phuket
Chinese eat no meat, eggs, milk, fish, garlic, nor spices. The festival was first held in
1825 and has been performed yearly since then, the object being to purify the mind and
body, and to demonstrate the strength of their faith. Amazing feats are performed by
participants who, possessed by spirits and in a trance, walk on burning coals, pierce
tender parts of their bodies with sharp or thorny instruments, climb a ladder made of
knives barefoot, and generally do such as might well leave an ordinary person dead or in
critical condition; and this without any apparent suffering or ill-effect, nor much loss
of blood either. it is an astonishing spectacle, performed not by actors but by the common
citizenry, one which makes believers of all who see it. (Click here for more detail)
Patong Carnival (The Opening of the Tourist Season) :
Starts the first day of November. The first festival was in 1985. It is to welcome
tourists and create a sprit of teamwork among those in the tourist business, the
government, and among the people generally. There are various activities, including : a
morning offering to monks, watersports competitions, and an international beauty contest
with participants being tourist.
The King's Cup Regatta :
A boat race in honor of His Majesty the King of Thailand, first held in 1987, to celebrate
the 5th 12-year cycle of his birth, and beginning each year since then, on his birthday,
the 5th of December. Racing yachts come from all over the world to compete. The
competition features various classes of yacht such as keelboats, catamarans, multihulls
for one week, and the event takes place between Nai Ham Beach and Phi Phi Island.
Thao Thep Krasattri - Thao Sri
Sunthorn Festival :
Falls on the 13 th of March.
Various activities remind the inhabitants of the events that enabled Phuket to survive the
battles with Burma,and of the heroic deeds done then.
Turtle Releasing Festival :
Fails on the 13th of April, which is Songkran, or Thai New Year. Department of Fisheries
has also declared National Fisheries Day. Turtles are released into the sea from various
beaches around Phuket.
Customary Setting Adrift of the
Chaolay Boats :
Ceremonies occur in the middle of the
6th and the 1 1 th months each year. The Chaolay, or Sea Gypsies, at Rawai and at Sapam
set their boats adrift on the evening of the 13th; those at Sirey on the 14th; and those
at Laem Lain (at the north end of Phuket) celebrate on the 15th. it is an exorcism of the
sort also practiced a little differently throughout Thailand during Loy Kratong Festival.
Boats are built of wood, fingernail and hair clipping, together with little doll effigies,
are put in the boats and set ,adrift, the purpose being to drive sorrow and suffering from
their midst. Afterward,a dance is performed round the Chaolay Boats,the famous 'Rahm Rong
Ngeng'.
Por Tor Festival :
An ethic Chinese festival
occurring during the 7th lunar month of the Chinese calendar usually in September.
Offerings are made to ancestors and holy spirits, of flour cakes shaped like turtles, boat
large and small, and colored red for good luck. The Chinese believe turtles have long
lives, and thus to make offering of turtles will help extending their own lives. it is an
important-merit making ceremony.
|
