Vegetarian Festival

This festival is held on the island of Phuket in southern Thailand in October. It is a nine-day commitment by the islanders to eat only vegetarian food. It was originally a Chinese festival, first celebrated in Phuket in 1825. It begins on the first day with a parade of white-clothed participants and numerous colourful displays. These include lion dances, barefoot walking on hot coals and various forms of body piercing. It is a fascinating, though sometimes gruesome, experience for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.