Pattaya began this year’s version of the annual
Vegetarian Festival with a parade from Bali Hai to Banglamung, as well as
cooking up a giant vegetable dish to serve thousands. Also on tap were lions and
dragons, Chinese acrobatics, and the always exciting performance by the Eng Kor
fighting team (shown here), which is made up of 108 “bandit warriors” from
Chumjon Lien San Pong, Shandong province.
Staff reporters
Dragons danced through the streets and 5,000 people dined on friend noodles with
peaches as the annual Pattaya Vegetarian Festival stirred up Thai-Chinese
citizens and tourists alike.
Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome, MP Santsak Ngampichet, Chonburi Gov. Khomsan
Ekachai, Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and city council members headed the long line
of people queuing up at the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation headquarters
for a helping of the “Pai Hor Hia Teeh,” the cooking of which was overseen by
Surasak Pankluab, president of Pattaya Eastern Chefs Association.
More than 16 ingredients comprised the meal, including mushrooms, sunflower
seeds, pumpkin seeds, peas, cranberries and gingko nuts, along with 5,000
peaches. Consuming the fried rice is believed to bring prosperity. Even the
mayor took turns stirring the pan with a spoon.
Before they could eat, however, they had to march. The annual dual-headed
procession consisting of “Kiew Huang Huk Jow” (the nine deities who are the
spiritual mascots of the festival) and “Bhodisttava” (also known as Chow Mae
Kuan Im, the goddess of mercy, compassion & healing) kicked off at 12:29 p.m. at
Bali Hai Pier and ran up Walking Street.
The parade group then split, with the first half following Beach Road to Central
Road and turning right, stopping for an Eng-ko performance in front of Tops
Supermarket.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome leads city
councilors at the head of the parade.
The second branch traveled along Second Road, stopping at
Mike’s Department Store for a dragon and lion show, before proceeding on to
Central Road to meet up with the first group. Reunited, the groups moved to
Third Road where they jumped on buses to go to Wat Sawang Fah Pritaram. The
final leg of the parade made its way from the temple to the vegetarian hall at
Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan.
All along the parade route, as large crowds looked on, business owners set up
tables to “feed” Poi Sien Jow Sue with cash and ceremonial gifts according to
tradition, asking for their businesses to prosper.
Even through rain fell during the start of festivities, the vegans dressed in
white remained hungry for action. Everyone still seemed to be having fun,
encouraged by the dancing dragons.
Parking remains a problem for the festival, which runs through Oct. 14. But the
site is easy to spot thanks to yellow flags, posters and arrows pointing the way
to the Sawang Boriboon headquarters. Pedestrians also must take care, as the
festival road is not closed to traffic.
The food booths offer a wide range of products, some familiar, some not. A few
look like meat, but are, in fact, tofu. There are plenty of sweets as well, such
as donuts coated in honey.
Minister of Culture “Chef” Sonthaya
Kunplome, along with other honorary chefs, stir up a giant ‘Khao Phat Thip 8
Sien Hongtae’.
Citizens dressed in white solemnly
light incense to pray to the Lords of Prosperity.
The food booths offer a wide range of
products, some familiar, some not.
Some of the people along the parade
route are given the stamp of serendipity.
The hungry dragon peaks in at the
food table.
Sawang Boriboon members help dish out
the ‘Khao Phat Thip 8 Sien Hongtae’.
You’re never too young to start
learning acrobatics.
It seems there might be a few
technical difficulties with the dragon.
Feeding the dragon by putting cash in
the dragon’s mouth will hopefully bring prosperity. Either way, the funds are
donated to the needy.
All fixed and ready to go.
Citizens on both sides of the road
set up tables for worship in front of their homes and shops to wait for the ‘Poi
Sien Jow Sue’ parade in order to pay their respects.
People donate cash to the lion
according to the old belief that this will bring happiness.
Peaches are believed to be prosperous
fruits from the lords.
Round and round it goes…
People flock to the jars of holy
water to drink it and spray some on themselves to detoxify their outer and inner
bodies before the vegetarian festival.
Vegetarian meals and desserts bring
lots of revenue for vendors.
Citizens donate cash to Lord
Hokloksew, the Lord of Happiness.
Members of the Eng Ko fighting team
are made up of 108 “bandit warriors” from Chumjon Lien San Pong, Shandong
province.
Lord Jee-kong, the holy lord that
has been worshipped and prayed to by Chinese since olden days.
The exciting dragon performance has
been thrilling crowds for centuries.