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festen er i fuld sving




Thailand on Tuesday starts celebrating the first day of the Chinese vegetarian festival.

This year’s festival runs from 13 to 21 October.

Shrines in every province have raised lantern poles to signify the beginning of the festival.

Apart from the lantern pole raising, there are other ceremonies related to the festival.

Called Je festival in Thailand, Thais of Chinese descent celebrate it nationwide.

They will refrain from eating meat, egg, dairy products and some stimulants during the festival.

Yellow flags signal a shop or food stall that sells Je food in line with regulations.

Various temples and shrines also handed out free vegetarian food.

Some wear white to attend the province’s ceremonies.

In Bangkok, the gathering point for this festival is in China Town.

In Phuket, a highlight is the procession of mediums of gods.

Face and body piercing and other daring mutilation acts are performed by the mediums.

They march on streets of Phuket and draw attentions from locals and tourists.