Photo Album Above WARNING graphic images
PHUKET: More Chinese than ever before are on Phuket this year for the Vegetarian Festival, says regional Tourism Authority of Thailand director Bangornrat Shinaprayoon.
Most of the activities - the vegetarian food stalls and daily parades - centre on Phuket City where hotels report occupancy between 80 and 90 percent.
The festival has consistently attracted visitors from Singapore and Malaysia but numbers from China are likely to continue to increase as people learn that Phuket still upholds traditions that were suppressed by the Communists.
Today's parade from the Samkong Shrine began in perfect conditions with larger-than-normal numbers of onlookers lining the route. The choice of decorations by entranced warriors was less confronting than those from Sapham Temple the previous day, when one mah song had to be taken to hospital after losing too much blood.
But more prevalent during today's parade - and considered too bloody to be published in Phuketwan were warriors using axes and hatchets to slash their tongues, and penitents lashing their backs to draw blood.
Phuket Vegetarian Fest Saturday Events
BAN THA RUE SHRINE
07.30 Street Procession in Phuket Town
SAPAM SHRINE
19.00 Street Procession in Sapam Village
KATHU SHRINE
05.00 / 18.00 Worship of Gods
JUI TUI SHRINE
Worship of Gods
BANG NEOW SHRINE
15.00 Food Offering to Warriors
20.00 Propitiation of Seven Stars
SUI BOON TONG SHRINE
20.00 Worship of Gods
24.00 Propitiation of Gods
SAMKONG SHRINE
05.30 Worship of Gods
15.09 Food Offering to Warriors
18.00 Worship of Gods
CHERNG THALAY SHRINE
15.00 Food Offering to Warriors
20.09 Propitiation of Seven Stars
23.00 Worship of Gods
YOKKEKENG SHRINE
07.30 Worship of Gods
20.00 Worship of Gods
PHOTO ALBUM With participants appearing to be using larger objects for piercings in the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, a man impaled on green bean shoots loses blood and is taken to hospital.
Phuket Warrior Loses Blood, Taken to Hospital
Phuket's Young Impaled Warriors Entrance Phuket Tourists
PHOTO ALBUM Boys as young as 10 became warriors possessed by the spirit gods as the Phuket Vegetarian Festival and nine days of sublime performance began with a single step.
Phuket's Young Impaled Warriors Entrance Phuket Tourists
Phuket's Veggie Fest Photo Special
Photo Album Artisans have almost completed work at Phuket's Taoist temples that will be the focus for nine days of rituals and rites as Phuket's vegetarian Festival begins anew.
Phuket's Veggie Fest Photo Special
Phuket Unfurls a Cheeky Challenger: Photo Special
Photo Album The first big parade through Phuket brings some fascinating piercings, but none more cheeky than the man impaled on a beach umbrella.
Phuket Unfurls a Cheeky Challenger: Photo Special
Phuket Enjoys a Pierce of the Action: Photo Special
Photo Album The first street procession brings a flavor of big parades to come. Body piecing and tied up traffic are two of the Phuket Veg Fest's controversial aspects
Phuket Enjoys a Pierce of the Action: Photo Special
Phuket's Mass Circumcision: Photo Special
PHOTO ALBUM Phuketwan goes along with a camera as 30 young boys engage in a ritual circumcision that marks the beginning of the path to adulthood and the Muslim life.
Phuket's Mass Circumcision: Photo Special
