Thailand launches vegetarian festival nationwide

October 15, 2012

BANGKOK, Oct 15 – Thailand’s annual nine-day Vegetarian Festival events in provinces nationwide have begun as vegetarians begin shopping for special foods at the opening of the festival.

At Yaowarat Road, Bangkok’s Chinatown, vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike were in a festive mood, shopping for food all night, as Yaowarat has many of the most creative and mouth-watering vegetarian recipes, from typical tofu dishes to mock-meat dishes made with processed tofu.

Although the prices of the vegetables and fruits were higher than normal this year, but the sellers share the same voice--that business is better this year than at last year’s festival.

The raising of the lantern poles – each bearing nine lanterns -- took place at Phuket's Chinese shrines and temples Sunday afternoon, marking the eve of the nine-day Phuket Vegetarian Festival.

Several major roads in Phuket have become temporary home to a vast number of vegetarian food stalls. At the same time many conventional restaurants have converted to selling vegetarian food for the period of the festival.

At Songkhla's Hat Yai, many tourists from Malaysia and Singapore are enjoying buying a wide variety of vegetarian dishes offered by more than 200 food stalls.

Traders said they have maintained the food prices at reasonable levels even though the cost of many ingredients has risen.

The festival is also held in other provinces—from Nakhon Ratchasima in the Northeast, Phitsanulok in the North and the famous beach resort of Pattaya in Chonburi.

The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) said this year's vegetarian festival is more lively than last year, particularly in the southern provinces, and they hope the festival will boost confidence and bring tourists back to the area. (MCOT online news)

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