Phuket’s Vegetarian
festival (or jia chai in local Hokkien Chinese dialect) began in
1825, when the governor of Thalang, Praya Jerm, moved the island’s
principal town from Ta Reua in Thalang District to Get-Hoe in Kathu
District, where were tin mines and Chinese miners. Kathu was then
still covered by jungle and fever was rife. It happened that a traveling
opera company (called ngiu in Thai or pua-hee in Hokkien dialect)
came from China to perform for the miners.
When the whole company grew sick from an unnamed malady, they kept
to a vegetarian diet to honor two of the emperor gods, Kiew Ong
Tai Teh and Yok Ong Song The. The sickness afflicting the opera
troupe then disappeared. This greatly interested the people of Kathu,
who asked how it was done. The answer came the ritual vegetarianism
with its attendant ceremonies had been the cause, with the result
that people embraced the faith enthusiastically. Thus the festival
began: starting the first evening of the ninth lunar month, it continued
until the ninth evening; the aim was to bring good luck to individuals
as well as to the community.
It later happened that one familiar with the festival volunteered
to return to Kansai, in China, where he invited the scared Hiao
Ho-le or Hiao lan (incensesmoke) and Lian Tui (name plaques), which
have the status of gods, to came stay in Kathu. He also brought
holy writings used in the ceremonies, returning to Phuket on the
seventh night of the ninth month. The people, upon hearing of his
arrival, went in procession to Bang Niao Pier to bring him and his
sacred cargo back. This was the origin of the processions that figure
so greatly in the festival.
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