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Phuket Vegetarian Festival
During the first 9 days of the lunar 9th 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 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, possesed 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. This
is without any suffering, performed not be actors but by the common
citizenry, one which makes believers of all who see it.
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, water sports
competitions, and an international beauty contest with participants being
tourists.
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