Chinese Flags

There are Chinese Flags popping up around town in preparation for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival.

It is yearly event, during the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. This year it starts on October 15th. It is believed that this festival and its rituals bring good fortune to those who participate.

for the 10 day festival, local residents of Chinese ancestry strictly observe a vegetarian diet to cleanse themselves spiritually and to gain some merit.

Many rituals are performed at various Chinese shrines and temples throughout the island. They vary from walking (more realistically jumping/running quickly) over hot coals, climbing ladders with knives on each rung, piercing their body with knives, parades, fireworks, a lot of smoke and a lot of other stuff.