Hundreds of vegetarians
release vegetable krathongs as part of the vegetable festival in
Sattahip.
Patcharapol Panrak
Thai-Chinese residents of Sattahip celebrated the end of their
annual vegetarian festival with the release of 1,999 sea creatures and
blessings from nine local monks.
Former Mayor Narong Bunbancherdsri, now the head of the Sawang Boriboon
Rojthummasathan Foundation, presided over the closing ceremonies, as
attendees dressed in while released turtles, eels, and clams into the
sea Oct. 22.
Residents of Sattahip
celebrate the end of their annual vegetarian festival with the release
of 1,999 sea creatures.
Animals such as turtles are believed by the Chinese
to bring prosperity and are a favorite pick to be honored at the
vegetarian festival, which ended Oct. 24.
Hundreds of vegetarians also marked an early Loy Krathong holiday by
releasing their own vegetable krathongs. As part of the ceremony,
blessings were given by nine local monks.
Thai-Chinese Buddhists celebrate vegetarian festivals the ninth lunar
month of every year. While many Buddhists believe the “nine precepts”
forbid eating after midday, others take the teaching to prescribe not
eating meat as part of Buddhist lent. During the festival, the red
Chinese letters stating “no meat” are written on yellow flags hoisted at
vegetarian stalls.
