Vegetarian Festival (Je festival)

Je festival have implemented by Chinese peoples for long time ago. This festival is start about October every year and take 9 days 9 night period. During this period, Chinese peoples is eating J food and control their behavior to be clean.


Reason


Chinese peoples believe there are 9 angels call "Kew Uang Hood Jow" fly from the heaven to see human's behavior and record it to their account. From the reason, they would show their moral by temporary stop eating meat (Pure "Je" food) and hold all commandment in this period.

Other story is from Tai Ping rebel between 1850-1860 in time of Sian Fueng emperor of Ching (Manchu) dynasty, this rebel try to release Chinese peoples from Manchu government, take 10 years long and kill more and more peoples. The rebel almost win to Ching soldiers but from conflict between rebel leader and they kill their gang themselves. This conflict cause them to loss and killed by Ching government. So many peoples recall them by "Je festival"

 
Source:  bkkonline

Nine Emperor Gods Festival Celebration in Popular Folk Culture

On the eve of the ninth moon, temples of the deities hold a ceremony to invoke and welcome the nine emperors. Since the arrival of the gods are believed to be through the waterways, processions are held from temples to the sea-shore or river to symbolize this belief. Devotees dressed in traditional white, carrying incense and candles, await the arrival of their excellencies.

A carnival-like atmosphere pervades the temple throughout the nine-day festival. During this period of time, the constant tinkling of a prayer bell and chants from the temple priests are heard. Most devotees stay at the temple, eat vegetarian meals and recite continuous chanting of prayer. It is believed that there will be rain throughout the nine days of celebration.

The ninth day of the festival is its climax. A procession which draws scores of devotees send the deities back home

Celebration in Thailand

In Thailand this festival is called "Tesagan Gin Je" (เทศกาลกินเจ), the Vegetarian Festival. It is celebrated throughout the entire country, but the festivities are at their height in Phuket, where about 35% of the population is Chinese.

Je

During a period of nine days, those who are participating in the festival dress all in white and gin je กินเจ, which has come to be translated as abstinence from eating meat, poultry, seafood, and dairy products. Vendors and proprietors of restaurants indicate that je food is for sale at their establishments by putting a yellow flag out with the word เจ (je) written on it in red. However, technically, only food prepared in the sacred kitchen of the Chinese temple (in Thailand, called san jao ศาลเจ้า or ahm (อ๊ำ) is je, as it must undergo a series of rituals before it can be given that name.

Mah song

Mah song (ม้าทรง) are the people who invite the spirits of gods to possess their bodies. Mah (ม้า) is the word for horse in Thai, and the name mah song refers to how the spirits of the gods use the bodies of these people as a vehicle, as one rides a horse. Only pure, unmarried men or women without families of their own can become mah song. At the temple they undergo a series of rituals to protect them for the duration of the festival, during which flagellation and self-mutilation is practiced. The mah song tradition doesn't exist in China and is believed to have been adopted from the Indian festival of Thaipusam.

The festivities in Phuket include a procession of mah song wearing elaborate costumes who pierce their cheeks and tongues with all manner of things, including swords, banners, machine guns, table lamps, and flowers. While the face is the most common area pierced, some also pierce their arms with pins and fishhooks. Teams of people accompany the mah song to keep their wounds clean and to help support the heavier piercings. It is believed that while they are possessed the mah song will not feel any pain. They can also be seen shaking their heads back and forth continually, and usually do not seem to "see" their surroundings. At the temple during the festival there is also firewalking and blade-ladder climbing. While large crowds of people gather to watch, the entranced mah song distribute blessed candy and pieces of orange cloth with Chinese characters printed on them, yang (ยังต์) for good luck.

Source: wikipedia
Photos: Google