| Until next time. Yupadee
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Vegetarian Festival in Ban Pong
by Yupadee Petpimarnwong, 1 October 2003
Hello everybody,
Tonight was the highlight of this festival - a long Chinese processions sponsored by all local business operators.
Three main streets downtown were closed. This made the traffic in BanPong a gridlock all evening.
The parades began with little children and teenagers from various schools and other
vegetarians' offsprings wearing Chinese traditional costumes. Some do the Chinese dancing; others carry small decorated baskets of flowers on their shoulders walking after their floats.
On each float there was a child or a lady dressed in white robe to represent Kuan-im, Chinese Goddess.
The very long illuminated dragon carried by about 50 dancers showed the spectacular dancing.
The last float was the Kuan-im Goddess for all vegetarians to pay homage to, followed by a great number of most vegetarians dressed in white and carrying big incensed sticks.
I did not join this procession for many years since none of my friend did. We went to the Chinese temple last night to do some donations.
Free delicious foods have been provided every meal for ten days at the temple.
Yellow banners with sponsors' names have been tied across each lamp-post. My brother's banner has been tied across the main road on the main entrance next to Keith's
dentist' clinic, which means that he did the biggest donation.
I hope you can imagine the atmosphere of this event. English is my second
language - my excuse.
| Until next time. Yupadee
|
|
Visit Thailand for Visitors for more on the Vegetarian Festival.
Learn more about Phuket's Vegetarian Festival.