PHUKET: Light and sound aplenty rocked the Phuket City night last night as the new lake fountain burst into life to mark the opening of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2011.
Storms made the ceremonies even more dramatic, and the weather will continue to play a part. Meteorologists forecast the 70 percent likelihood of rain today with waves to three metres, and more storms forecast for Phuket until Thursday at least.
Among last night's VIP audience were Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha, Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation Chief Execute Paiboon Upatising and Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana.
Phuket's new 60 million baht fountain took 270 days to construct and its spectacular opening show was given the thumbs up by a large audience lakeside at Saphan Hin public park in Phuket City.
The Phuket City park is the centre for many Phuket festivals - the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is one exception - and the fountain is expected to be in use for each of them.
Around Phuket City, fireworks mingled with storms as the Phuket Vegetarian Festival began with the raising of lantern poles at Phuket's Taoist temples.
Parading vegetarian ''warriors'' late into the night marked the arrival of the spirits from the sea that will occupy entranced adherents over the next nine days.
Many people will wear white and give up meat, alcohol, nicotine and sex as part of the traditional Phuket festival of purity and renewal.
The light show at Saphan Hin meanwhile will be on for 30 minutes nightly at 7.30pm, 8.30pm, and 9.30pm through to the end of the festival, when the spirits are driven back into the sea at the nearby Saphan Hin beach.
KATHU SHRINE
05.00 / 18.00 Worship of Gods
JUI TUI SHRINE
Worship of Gods and Spirit Propitiation of Past Participants of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival.
SUI BOON TONG SHRINE
20.00 Worship and Propitiation of Gods
SAMKONG SHRINE
Worship of Gods
BAN THA RUE SHRINE
17.00 Worship of Gods
CHERNG THALAY SHRINE
15.00 Food Offering to Warriors
18.00 Worship of Gods
YOKKEKENG SHRINE
20.00 Worship of Gods
SAPAM SHRINE
20.00 Worship of Gods
Storms made the ceremonies even more dramatic, and the weather will continue to play a part. Meteorologists forecast the 70 percent likelihood of rain today with waves to three metres, and more storms forecast for Phuket until Thursday at least.
Among last night's VIP audience were Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha, Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation Chief Execute Paiboon Upatising and Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana.
Phuket's new 60 million baht fountain took 270 days to construct and its spectacular opening show was given the thumbs up by a large audience lakeside at Saphan Hin public park in Phuket City.
The Phuket City park is the centre for many Phuket festivals - the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is one exception - and the fountain is expected to be in use for each of them.
Around Phuket City, fireworks mingled with storms as the Phuket Vegetarian Festival began with the raising of lantern poles at Phuket's Taoist temples.
Parading vegetarian ''warriors'' late into the night marked the arrival of the spirits from the sea that will occupy entranced adherents over the next nine days.
Many people will wear white and give up meat, alcohol, nicotine and sex as part of the traditional Phuket festival of purity and renewal.
The light show at Saphan Hin meanwhile will be on for 30 minutes nightly at 7.30pm, 8.30pm, and 9.30pm through to the end of the festival, when the spirits are driven back into the sea at the nearby Saphan Hin beach.
Wednesday's Phuket Vegetarian Festival Highlights
KATHU SHRINE
05.00 / 18.00 Worship of Gods
JUI TUI SHRINE
Worship of Gods and Spirit Propitiation of Past Participants of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival.
SUI BOON TONG SHRINE
20.00 Worship and Propitiation of Gods
SAMKONG SHRINE
Worship of Gods
BAN THA RUE SHRINE
17.00 Worship of Gods
CHERNG THALAY SHRINE
15.00 Food Offering to Warriors
18.00 Worship of Gods
YOKKEKENG SHRINE
20.00 Worship of Gods
SAPAM SHRINE
20.00 Worship of Gods
Phuket's new 60 million baht fountain
wow..well spent!
Posted by Mike on September 28, 2011 21:00