PHUKET:Phuket is gradually developing a reputation for having festivals of all kinds all year long, making it ''Phuket, the festival Island'' to many visitors and residents.
Here are the coming festivals on Phuket. A couple of them are coming so fast they may even be here:
THE Por Tor festival has a long tradition in Phuket's Chinese background, with turtles in China symbolising long life and good health (although around Phuket the turtle has a lot less of both.)
Inherently superstitious and keen to always keep the spirits of ancestors content, sweets in the shape of red turtles are offered to ''hungry ghosts'' for the sake of eternal peace and contentment.
Today's street procession starts at 10am at Queen Sirikit Park on Thalang Road (next to the TAT office) and passes along Thalang Road, Yaowarat Road, Phang Nga Road, Standard Chartered Bank Junction, and Rassada Road before reaching the municipal market on Ranong Road at around 12:20pm.
The following Sunday, September 9, another procession starts at the Saphan Hin Mining Monument in Phuket City at 9am. The parade route will be along Phuket Road, Kra Road, Takuatung Road and the finish at the Bang Neaw Shrine [also called the Por Tor Kong Shrine] on Phuket Road.
Phuket's Hungry Ghost Festival is always held in alignment with the phases of the Moon and is one of the most important ancestor worship events on the Chinese lunar calendar.
Other Phuket Hungry Ghost events are being held all over Phuket, most notably at Municipal Market 1 on Ranong Road (September 2, 3); Bang Neaw Shrine on Phuket Road (September 4 to 15); Tai Hua Museum on Krabi Road (September 5); Takuapa Road (September 6).
Details are available from the TAT.
NEW ON the Phuket festival calendar is the Chalong Food and Ebtertainment Festival, which began on Thursday. The latest Phuket festival runs for five days, open from 4pm to midnight in the field opposite Wat Ladthi Wanaram (Wat Tai), on Chao Fa East Road in Chalong.
Performances, cooking contests and of course local food are part of the plan to put Phuket's Chalong on the world food map. More than 80 vendors will be displaying their offerings.
FIRST comes an international Phuket Halal Food Summit from September 5-6 where officials will meet to discuss the future of halal food on Phuket, where quality and variety are now attracting the interest of Muslims around the world.
And then comes the fun part: a food fair on September 7 and 8 at Sanamchai, opposite Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City, starting at 5pm both days.
The history and traditions of Muslims on Phuket and around the Andaman region will also be presented. Unknown to many, Muslims make up about one third of the population on Phuket and in the surrounding region, adding to the heady mix of cultures and tolerance.
The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation has given its support for the conference and the fair and hopes to attract people from around the whole Andaman region.
For those who find lamb absent from many of the local Phuket dishes, the Phuket halal food fair will be the place to find it.
Coming in October: Phuket's biggest festival of all, the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival, where more than food gets skewered.
Here are the coming festivals on Phuket. A couple of them are coming so fast they may even be here:
Phuket Hungry Ghost Festival
THE Por Tor festival has a long tradition in Phuket's Chinese background, with turtles in China symbolising long life and good health (although around Phuket the turtle has a lot less of both.)
Inherently superstitious and keen to always keep the spirits of ancestors content, sweets in the shape of red turtles are offered to ''hungry ghosts'' for the sake of eternal peace and contentment.
Today's street procession starts at 10am at Queen Sirikit Park on Thalang Road (next to the TAT office) and passes along Thalang Road, Yaowarat Road, Phang Nga Road, Standard Chartered Bank Junction, and Rassada Road before reaching the municipal market on Ranong Road at around 12:20pm.
The following Sunday, September 9, another procession starts at the Saphan Hin Mining Monument in Phuket City at 9am. The parade route will be along Phuket Road, Kra Road, Takuatung Road and the finish at the Bang Neaw Shrine [also called the Por Tor Kong Shrine] on Phuket Road.
Phuket's Hungry Ghost Festival is always held in alignment with the phases of the Moon and is one of the most important ancestor worship events on the Chinese lunar calendar.
Other Phuket Hungry Ghost events are being held all over Phuket, most notably at Municipal Market 1 on Ranong Road (September 2, 3); Bang Neaw Shrine on Phuket Road (September 4 to 15); Tai Hua Museum on Krabi Road (September 5); Takuapa Road (September 6).
Details are available from the TAT.
Phuket's Chalong Food Festival
NEW ON the Phuket festival calendar is the Chalong Food and Ebtertainment Festival, which began on Thursday. The latest Phuket festival runs for five days, open from 4pm to midnight in the field opposite Wat Ladthi Wanaram (Wat Tai), on Chao Fa East Road in Chalong.
Performances, cooking contests and of course local food are part of the plan to put Phuket's Chalong on the world food map. More than 80 vendors will be displaying their offerings.
Phuket's Halal Food Festival
FIRST comes an international Phuket Halal Food Summit from September 5-6 where officials will meet to discuss the future of halal food on Phuket, where quality and variety are now attracting the interest of Muslims around the world.
And then comes the fun part: a food fair on September 7 and 8 at Sanamchai, opposite Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City, starting at 5pm both days.
The history and traditions of Muslims on Phuket and around the Andaman region will also be presented. Unknown to many, Muslims make up about one third of the population on Phuket and in the surrounding region, adding to the heady mix of cultures and tolerance.
The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation has given its support for the conference and the fair and hopes to attract people from around the whole Andaman region.
For those who find lamb absent from many of the local Phuket dishes, the Phuket halal food fair will be the place to find it.
Coming in October: Phuket's biggest festival of all, the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival, where more than food gets skewered.
