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Phuket Vegetarian Festival
(Full text available on request)

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival which marks the beginning of the Taosit lent, celebrates the local Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat alcohol and sex, during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. During the 9 day festival, "mediums" in a state of trance, perform acts of self-mortification, walk on hot coals, climb bladed ladders.... Young men also carry altars with deity images during street parades which are covered with fire crackers to drive away evil spirits.

Fire crackers explode on an altar during a Street Procession.

A pierced medium walks through Phuket town during a street procession. © Cedric Arnold

L: A lantern pole with nine lanterns is raised at each Taoist shrine during the whole period of the festival, the raising and lowering of the pole mark the beginning of and end of the festival. © Cedric Arnold

Mediums perform acts of self mortification during a street parade.

L: fire walking at the festival © Cedric Arnold

Mediums perform acts of self mortification during a street parade. © Cedric Arnold

A medium hands out cloths inscribed with taoist scripture at festival goers

A medium climbs a bladed ladder during a special ceremony held at night.

Fire crackers explode on an altar during a Street Procession.

© Cedric Arnold

Fire crackers explode on an altar during a Street Procession.

A pierced medium walks through Phuket town during a street procession.

A medium during the final ceremony of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. © Cedric Arnold

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