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Veggie delight

Everything you need to know about Thailand�s Vegetarian Festival

By Nuttaporn Srisirirungsimakul, Photographs courtesy of AFP/AP/Bangkok Post

Did You Know : While they are still meaty and chewy, mock meat products are actually made from wheat gluten.

Last week marked the beginning of Thailand�s annual Vegetarian Festival. At this time of the year, yellow flags can be found flying at eateries across the country inviting meat lovers to forsake the flesh and sample vegetarian delicacies.

In the past, only devout Chinese observed the festival, seeing it as a means of purifying their minds and bodies. These days,however, hordes of trendy, health-conscious Thais join in the meat-free fun. 

To celebrate the season, Student Weekly has dug deep to find out everything you need to know about the Vegetarian Festival.

When is the Vegetarian Festival held?

The Vegetarian Festival is held for nine days starting on the first day of the ninth month on the Chinese lunar calendar. Normally it falls in late September or early October. This year the festival is being held from October 14 to 22.

Where did the festival start?

The origin of the festival is unclear. Legend has it that the festival first started in the southeastern part of China near Fujian province. There, Chinese abstained from eating meat and performed religious rites to honour nine brave warriors who sacrificed their life fighting against Manchurian troops.

Some people say the festival got its start in Thailand on the island of Phuket. There, a visiting group of Chinese are said to have fallen ill with malaria. In a bid to save themselves, they adhered to a strict non-meat diet and prayed to the nine emperor gods who they believed would be able to help purify their minds and bodies. When the group recovered, they decided to hold a festival to honour the gods and celebrate their survival.

Whatever the origin, the festival has been passed from generation to generation in Thailand and is now seen as a way to make merit and save animals from being killed for food.

What happens during the Vegetarian Festival?

Obviously, those observing the festival refrain from eating meat, animal products like milk and butter and certain vegetables with strong odour � specifically garlic, leeks, onions, shallots and tobacco.

Some devotees also practise Buddhist precepts, dress in white during the festival and visit their local Chinese temple.

In some places, like Phuket, the festival has taken on an almost party-like atmosphere with parades and public celebrations.

Why is a yellow flag with red Chinese script used to decorate vegetarian food stalls?

The Chinese letter is jae and means vegan food. Written in red, it also represents good fortune. The colour yellow is associated with Buddhism and merit makers. The flag, therefore, suggests that the food sold at a stall is meat-free and will bring good luck to those eating it.

Will eating vegetarian food lead to malnutrition?

According to Sa-nga Damapong, a senior nutritionist at the Ministry of Health, vegetarians can stay healthy and get all the essential nutrients their bodies need � if they eat properly. Sa-nga recommends diners include beans, tofu and soya milk in food to replace meat protein.

However, be warned: Not all vegetarian food is good for your health. It is best to avoid dishes that contain lots of fat and carbohydrates. Moreover, since vegetarian food contains salt and soybean sauce as the main seasonings, it tends to be saltier than ordinary food. Eating too much salty food can lead to high blood pressure, so it�s best to be careful and not add unneeded salt or soy sauce to your meal.

Where can I celebrate the Vegetarian Festival?

The most significant and exciting Vegetarian Festival events are definitely held in Phuket. On the island, long lines of devotees carrying images of gods march in processions while onlookers light firecrackers

and celebrate.

The highlights of the nine-day festival are the sometimes gruesome religious ceremonies � including fire walking, body piercing and other acts of self-mutilation � that devotees perform.

During the ceremonies, men and women have been known to puncture their cheeks with various items such as knives and skewers.

Yaowarat, Bangkok�s Chinatown, is another must-visit venue. There, the streets are turned into a gastronomic paradise where food lovers can sample oodles of delicious vegetarian food. The numerous Chinese shrines in the area also open for prayers.

Vocabulary

devout (adj): (of a person) believing strongly in a particular religion and obeying its law and practices
abstain (v): to decide not to do something, especially something you like or enjoy, because it is bad for your health or considered morally wrong
precept (n): a rule about how to behave or what to think
malnutrition (n): a poor condition of health caused by a lack of food or a lack of the right type of food
seasoning (n): a substance used to add flavour to food, especially salt and pepper
gruesome (adj): very unpleasant and filling you with horror, usually because it is connected with death or injury
self-mutilation (n): the act of wounding yourself
gastronomic (adj): connected with cooking and eating good food