Many provinces are holding grand vegetarian festivals or the tradition of observing the Vegetarian Festival. The Trang City Shrine held a ceremony to raise the Teng pole, announcing the start of the vegetarian festival. Meanwhile, Phuket residents and tourists joined in gilding the Teng pole for good luck. At the Chao Pho Muen Ram Shrine in Trang Municipality, which is an ancient shrine over 100 years old, a ceremony was held to raise the Teng Ko Pole or the Deva Pole to symbolize the beginning of the Vegetarian Festival, which this year will be held from October 3-11, 2567. Today is considered a day to cleanse the stomach before the start of the Vegetarian Festival tomorrow (October 3). The atmosphere of the ceremony to raise the 'Tengko Pole' was attended by more than 50 male and female mediums of various sacred spirits. The Tengko Pole was made of bamboo with the tip intact and no less than 36 nodes high, symbolizing the 36 levels of heaven. It is believed that the Tengko Pole is a path connecting the h uman world to heaven. The small yellow flag at the top is used to announce to the ghosts, demons, and spirits to receive merit and to announce to the gods and angels to come down and help protect and guard the people who come to observe the vegetarian precepts. The other flag is the flag of the Kiu Ong Tai Te. Similarly, Kiew Ong Eia Shrine, another ancient shrine in Trang Province, has held a ceremony to raise the Teng Ko pole. Tonight, there will be a ceremony to invite the Jade Emperor and Kiew Ong Tai Te into the ceremony hall, as well as to invite oil lamps to the Teng Ko pole for good fortune and to be considered the beginning of the Vegetarian Festival or the Vegetarian Festival tradition completely. Phuket gilds the Ko Teng pillars before the start of the Vegetarian Festival In Phuket, the Jui Tui Tao Bo Keng Shrine, one of the largest and oldest shrines in Phuket town, is visited by Chinese Phuket residents, Thai and foreign tourists, who join in gilding the Ko Teng pole before it is raised in the evening, along with 9 lanterns, which symbolizes entering the Vegetarian Festival tradition to bring good fortune to oneself and one's family. In addition to the shrine being filled with a large number of people, the surrounding streets, especially Ranong Road, which is known as Vegan Road or Vegetarian Road, are bustling with people coming to buy vegetarian food and white clothing. Phuket police are deploying lines to maintain safety and build confidence throughout the 9 days and 9 nights of the Vegetarian Festival. The TAT expects that this year's Vegetarian Festival will attract 450,000 Thai and foreign tourists throughout the 9 days, generating 15 billion baht in circulation. Source: Thai News Agency
