Vegetarians Unite at Talad Noi!

Last Tuesday and Wednesday I spent some time wandering around Chinatown observing the activities surrounding the Vegetarian Festival.

According to TAT: On the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, Thai people of Chinese origin will observe a nine or 10-day vegetarian diet for the purposes of spiritual cleansing, merit-making, conferring good luck, and ensuring prosperity and long life.

Whereas the emphasis on Yaowarat Road was mainly centered around food (no surprise!), I found the action in Talad Noi much more interesting.

Here the focus was more spiritual, especially at Chow Sue Kong Shrine.

Of course there are some specific food items as well!

Khanom Tub Tab being hammered into shape!

Peanuts are boiled in a sticky caramel then cooled and pounded with a wooden hammer.

Hard work!

All cut to size!

Hanging incense. spirals from Vietnam!

Making donations.

Most visitors were dressed in white, that was also the dress code for entering the shrine!

Lots and lots of candles...

Up goes the incense.

Massive candles...

Just in case you forgot: white clothes symbolize purity!

Oil and candles...

This huge dude appeared suddenly on Wednesday.

Impressive!

He was surrounded by several smaller puppets.

Lighting the incense.

Activities at nearby สมาคมกุศลสงเคราะห์ 蓮邦念佛社

That must have been quite hot walking between those burning candles.

Preparing another incense spiral.

Getting their stuff ready.

Smoldering and smoking....

Making merit by releasing birds is still popular unfortunately...

As well as other animals...

Good business!

Colorful and intricate patters, visually very attractive!

Tomorrow is the last day of this very intriguing festival!