
Phuket
Vegetarian Festival is held from the first through
the ninth nights of the ninth Chinese lunar month; that is,
in September or October. It was first celebrated in 1825,
when a troupe of actors enacted these rites toward off a plague.
Vegetarian food is eaten by participants and white clothes
worn during the period of the fest. Selfmutilization is practiced
by those whose bodies become the temporary residence of powerful
gods. Parades of worshippers brave fireworks while carrying
images through the street; others walk on fire or climb bladed
ladders. Participants number in the thousands.The whole forms
one of the most bizarre festivals in Thailand.
Por Tor Festival This is an ancestor's festival
of the ethnic Chinese that falls on the seventh Chinese lunar
month, which is the same as the ninth lunar month of the Thais.
Special foods, flowers and candles are presented to the ancestor's
altars. Cakes in the shape of turtles are made from flour.
This is done because turtles live to great age and it is believed
that by making such offering worshippers may extend the length
of their lives. It is an important merit-making festival.
Thao
Thep Krasatri-Thao Sri Suntorn Festival is held on
13 Macrh yearly in memory of the two heroines who led the
defense of the island against the Burmese in 1785.
Turtle Release Fair is held on Songkran,
the nationwide Thai water festival, on April 13. It is also
the National Fisherman's Day. Baby turtles are released into
the sea at various locations.
Chao Le Boat Floating Festival falls during
the middle of the sixth and eleventh lunar months yearly.
The fest is held at the Chao Le, or Sea Gipsy, villages in
Phuket. The Rawai and Sapam villages hold their ceremonies
on the 13th; Sire village celebrates on the 14th; and the
village at Laem La (east of the bridge on Phuket's northern
tip) celebrates on the 15th. Ceremonies, which center around
the setting adrift of small boats similar to the Thai Festival
of Loy Krathong, are held at night and their purpose is to
drive
away evil and to bring good luck. Fingernail clipping and
strands of hair are put in the little boats before being released,
along with little dolls fashioned from wood. Afterwards, the
villagers perform their famous dance round their own boats,
called the Ram Rong Ngeng.
Tourist Season Opening Festival is usually
called the Patong Carnival in English according to from the
place where celebrations occur, and is held on November 1.
There are many stalls with merchandise and food, parades,
sports event, and a beauty competition for foreign tourists.
The fest is held to cement solidarity among the government,
the private business sector, and the people.
Phuket King's Cup Regatta was first held
in 1987 in honour of His Majesty's 60th birthday. The King
of Thailand is a noted boating enthusiast and yachts come
from around the world to participate in the competition, which
is the largest and most popular in Southeast Asia.
It is held yearly on the anniversary of His Majesty's birthday,
5 December. Site of the regatta is Nai Han Bay.
Laguna Phuket Triathlon This annual year
end event sees the world's top triathletes and hundreds of
amateurs competing for prize money and placing on the world
triathlon circuit. The course, which includes swimming, bicycling,
and running through the beautiful natural surroundings of
Laguna Phuket in Tambon Choeng Thale, takes from two-and-a-half
to five hours to complete.
Phuket Travel Fair Phuket Travel Fair
, held on November 1, was first initiated in 1985 at Patong
to welcome in the tourist season and designed to foster co-operation
among tourism-related operators both in the private and public
sectors. Many colourful and interesting activities are organised,
such as merit-making in the morning, water sports contests,
a Miss Visitor Contest, among others.
Seafood Festival Seafood Festival, held around
May yearly, is designed to publicise the delicious seafood
of Phuket and attract visitors during the rainy season. Activities
include a Marine Tourism Resources Parade, seafood stalls,
demonstrations of regional cuisines and cultural shows.
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