Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome
lights some incense to summon different deities to impress upon the
festival.
Manoon Makpol
Dragons danced through the streets as thousands of people dined on
“dumplings with heavenly ingredients” as the annual Pattaya Vegetarian
Festival stirred up Thai-Chinese citizens and tourists alike.
The hungry revelers dressed in white pledged to give up meat during the
Sept. 26-Oct. 6 festival. They summoned their “King-ouang Huk-jow” and “Phra
Photsat” to bless the proceedings before firing up a giant frying plan to
cook the “9 prosperous ingredient’s amazing fried rice” in a giant pan at
the Sawang Boriboon Foundation’s “Vegetarian House.”
The dish - made of natural ingredients, including 200 kg of jasmine rice,
100 kg of brown rice, 60 kg of mushrooms, 60 kg of gingko, 60 kg of kaoluk,
50 kg of lotus seeds, 60 kg of cashew nuts, 400 kg of white tofu, 40 kg of
jujube, 100 kg of carrots, 100 kg of peas, 30 kg of seasoning sauce, 7 kg of
salts, 100 kg of brown sugar, 5 pails of palm oil, and 50 kg of organic rice
- was passed out to thousands of revelers, many dressed in white to honor
the end of the Buddhist Lent season.
Before they could eat, however, they had to march. The annual dual-headed
procession consisting of “Kiew Huang Huk Jow” (the 9 Deities who are the
spiritual mascots of this year’s vegetarian festival) and “Bodhisattva”
(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 proceeded up Walking Street.
The parade group then split, with half following Beach Road to Central Road
and turning right. The second branch traveled along Second Road, stopping at
Mike Shopping Mall for a dragon show, then met the first group at Central
Road. Reunited, the groups moved to Third Road and then jumped on buses to
go to the Sawang Boriboon headquarters.
Activities also played out on Walking Street in the evenings, with more than
50 food stalls, games and stage performances. Following evenings saw a magic
show, a performance from Thummawathi School, and traditional Chinese opera
played out by children.
While Pattaya’s Vegetarian Festival was the largest in the area, it wasn’t
the only one.
Chonburi Deputy Gov. Phakthorn Thienchai welcomed revelers to the Paohektua
Vegetarian Hall in Chonburi on Sept. 27 and offered both free accommodation
and food to celebrants.
In Sattahip, Mayor Narong Bunbancherdsri led a Chinese deities parade
through the city to kick off that area’s festival.
Leaders carry the ceremonial
incense pot into the holy ground to pay respects to their deity.
The Vegetarian Festival parade
in Sattahip draws many participants.
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay
(center) helps plant the 9 sacred ingredients.
This is quite good.
The mayor steps in to help
members of the Chef Association of cook the ‘8 masters Yaadthip fried rice
in giant pan’.
Eng-Kor-Pabu troops from the
Look Praya group out of Nakorn Sawan perform at the Sawang Boriboon
Thammasathan Foundation in Naklua.
Eng-Kor-Pabu troops entertain
people along the parade route on Pattaya 2nd Road. (Photo by Phasakorn
Channgam)
An Eng-Kor-Pabu (traditional
Chinese fighter).
This human pyramid raises the
children high into the sky.
Lions and dragons make their
way up Walking Street.
(Photo by Phasakorn Channgam)
After sunset, the dragon show
is an amazing attraction.
(Photo by Phasakorn Channgam)
The Chinese dragon lifts high
into the air, which is always a big attraction. (Photo by Phasakorn
Channgam)
The parade winds its way
through the streets of Pattaya.
Business owners and residents
who have put out worship altars along the parade route, present garlands and
receive blessings for prosperity.
‘Pae Yim’, also called ‘Sim
Hua Roa’ or the Laughing Aunty,
is a permanent fixture during Chinese type holidays.
White clad participants in the
opening day parade make their way through the streets.
Feeding money to the dragon
for good luck.
(Photo by Phasakorn Channgam)
Participants line up for their
share of the peach shaped dumplings.
(Photo by Phasakorn Channgam)
This fried rice and peaches
sure tastes good.
(Photo by Phasakorn Channgam)
A ferocious red lion excites
the youngsters during the festivities.
No parade is complete without
a talented school marching band.
Lan Pho market in Naklua is
abuzz with activity during the annual Vegetarian Festival. (Photo by
Phasakorn Channgam)
