Vegetarian Festival in Thailand

For piercing, the participants of the Vegetarian Festival use knives, sabers and so on.In Thailand, on the island of Phuket, the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival is held. The festival owes its popularity to the traditions of the participants to expose themselves to the most sophisticated tortures.

The festival participants believe that extreme piercing, walking on fire and other ways of self-injuring will provide them with the mercy of the gods. It is believed that the gods will protect believers who have proved their faith in this way from all the vicissitudes of fate, as well as from scars and death from loss of blood.

The latter is especially relevant as fanatics come up with more sophisticated ways to torture themselves every year.

For piercing, participants of the Vegetarian Festival use knives, sabers, umbrellas and electric drills.

Most of the festival participants are Chinese living in Thailand. How this holiday came about is . . The most plausible version is that the Vegetarian Festival was brought to Thailand by a Chinese opera company. In the XIX century, singers on tour in Thailand fell ill with malaria. To heal from this deadly disease, they began to adhere to a strict vegetarian diet, and after recovery – established in honor of the “miracle” this holiday.

The festival lasts nine days, starting on the ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar.

During this time, devout Buddhists follow a strict vegetarian diet, wear white robes, and follow 10 other rules that allow them to purify their bodies and minds.

These most important commandments are: do not kill, do not deceive, do not swear, do not commit adultery or stay in hotels for three weeks before the celebration.

Despite the fact that the festival is one of the most colorful spectacles in the world, the authorities of Thailand recommend “weak heart” tourists to refrain from visiting it.