Pure Faith - The Phuket Vegetarian Festival
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, or 'Kin Jay' celebrates the beginning of Taoist Lent, when devout Chinese abstain from eating all meat and other vices. Everyone dresses in white and small alters are set up with offerings of incense, flowers, candles, fruit, and 9 cups of tea to the 9 emperor deities honored by the festival. Mediums bring the 9 gods to earth entering a trance state and piercing themselves with all kinds of objects, as they climb knife ladders, while walking on hot coals. The self torture is done to shift evil from individuals to the mediums and bring the community good luck. The festival is believed to have started when a Chinese theatre troupe fell ill for failing to honor the 9 emperor gods of Taoism. They were quickly cured when they adhered to the 9 day ritual now held each year promoting inner peace, brightness, and proper hygiene.
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Photographer:
© Roger Arnold/ZUMA Press
