Every autumn Taoists flock to Phuket in Thailand to take part in arguably the country’s most unusual religious event: the annual Vegetarian Festival.
The festival’s simple name belies the depths of the proceedings that unfold over its nine-day run.
During the festival, devotees and tourists gather at temples and join processions, praying and following a strict white dress code that symbolises purity. People abstain from sex, alcohol and meat to live in harmony with the universe in line with Taoist principles.
Kaan Thanadechaparn, a 51-year-old Phuket native, talks about the importance of adhering to Taoist tenets during the festival, including veganism.
“We need vegan food [such as Peranakan chap chye – braised mixed vegetable stew],” she says.
An estimated 70 per cent of Phuket island’s residents have Chinese ancestry, the result of a wave of immigration from China to Southeast Asia during the 19th century when the region experienced a tin-mining boom.
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