PHUKET PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE JOINED PROCESSION TO HONOR HM THE KING BHUMIPHOL ON THE OCCASSION OF 2013 PHUKET VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL On October 6, 2013, at 16.00 hrs, in the area of Sanamchai Field, AmphoeMueang, Changwat Phuket, Mr. MaitriInthusut, Phuket Governor, presided over opening ceremony of a procession to honor HM The King Bhumiphol’s 86th birthday anniversary on the occasion of 2013 Phuket Vegetarian Festival. For this purpose, Mr. SamasakRatanasaenyanuparp, Advisor to PPAO Chief Executive, acting on behalf of Mr. PaiboonUppatising, PPAO Chief Executive, was reading the details of the ceremony. Participating in the event were also: Mr. PraditSaengchan, President of PPAO Council, other PPAO Council Members, government officials and PPAO officers, and dignitaries from various sectors. The procession, which started from Sanamchai Field and ended at the podium in the middle of SaphanHinpark, provided the opportunity to proffer the royal gift of silver and gold bouquets to the HM the King on the occasion of his 86th birthday anniversary. Mr. SamasakRatanasaenyanuparp, Advisor to PPAO Chief Executive, said during the ceremony that: “Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a long-observed tradition of the Chinese settlers for almost 200 years now. Locally known as “Jia Chai,” the ceremony started life in Lai Too village in TambonKathusubdistrict, Changwat Phuket, whose inhabitants were Chinese settlers who were devout Toaists and believed in their deities or “Sian.” For these farmers and miners, elemental spirits must be appeased to ensure collective wellbeing, prosperity and good health. There belief was further affirmed when a travelling troop of Chinese opera all fell ill while performing in their village. Both the villagers and the performers believed that the misfortune happened because they did not observe the annual vegetarianism they used to do annually back in China. They all agreed to observe vegetarian rules and rituals, after which all the diseases inflicted the troop had disappeared. Thus, the people of Kathu, in awe of this phenomenon, have been observing vegetarianism since then. Vegetarian festival is usually observed for nine days and typically between the 1st-9th waning moon of the ninth lunar month. During this time, observers adhere to strict rules of moral conducts and religious codes in order to purify their mind and body for the good fortune of themselves, their families and the community.” Phuket Governor, Mr. MaitriInthusut said that: “This procession to honor the King’s 86th birthday, is a joint undertaking between PPAO, Office of Phuket Culture, Association of Phuket Shrines, government offices, private companies and the people of Phuket. This is to express our gratitude to the King for his kindness to all his subjects. It is also the occasion to preserve our beautiful culture that has been the pride of Phuket and is a draw for both local and foreign tourists to experience this unique event, and to use Phuket tradition to create financial growth for the stability of our community and society.”
Posted on: Mon, 07 Oct 2013 12:14:01 +0000