Thailand's Vegetarian Festival starts Sept 24

TRANG, THAILAND, September 23 (TNA) - Chinese temples and shrines and vegetarian houses in all parts of Thailand are lively ahead of the Vegetarian Festival 2014, set from September 24-October 2. In Trang Province in the Thai South, for instance, a number of Thais of Chinese origin visited the 100-year-old Chinese Temple to worship sanctity before observing the annual Vegetarian Festival, during which people refrain from consuming meat and some vegetables with strong smells. At least 50 million baht is expected to be circulated in the province alone during the festival. In nearby Krabi Province, more than 70 Chinese shrines have been decorated with vegetarian flag poles and lanterns, while offerings were prepared by Thai people with the Chinese origin before the nine-day festival. In Chiang Rai Province in the Thai North, Chinese-blooded Thai people, prepared cooking areas, utensils and vegetarian ingredients at several vegetarian houses ahead of the nine-day Vegetarian Festival, during which a large number of Thais of Chinese origin and Chinese tourists are expected to observe. In Buriram Province in the Thai Northeast, the Muang Buriram Municipality, in cooperation with operators of local restaurants, also organised the Vegetarian Festival and encouraged people to consume vegetables instead of meat. The prices of vegetarian ingredients at provincial markets have gone up by some 10 per cent. There are two rounds of the Vegetarian Festival in Thailand this year, the first time in 182 years, due to the double 9th month based on the lunar calendar, the first round of which is scheduled for September 24-October 2 and the second round of which is set from October 24-November 2. (TNA)