Similarities and Differences of Vegetarian-Festival Rituals at Chinese Shrines in Trang Province

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to study by means of qualitative methods the similarities and differences between the series of rituals performed at the Vegetarian Festival in Trang Province in the south of Thailand. The data were collected from documents and fieldwork at four shrines in Muang Trang District and Huaiyot District, namely Tam Kong Yea Shrine, Kew Ong Yea Shrine, Chao Por Muen Ram Shrine and Kew Ong Taitae Huaiyot Shrine. The findings reveal that the rituals of the Vegetarian Festival at Chinese shrines in Trang Province consist of eight rites, listed as follows: 1. awakening people from all 12 signs of the zodiac; 2. the “Paitao” ritual; 3. the ritual of raising the “Tall Lantern Pole”; 4. offering food to the heavenly warriors (Pangyea and Kokhun); 5. a ceremony involving visiting and blessing all beings outside the shrines; 6. a ceremonial ritual entailing crossing a bridge to ward off bad luck; 7. a farewell ritual honouring the Jade Emperor deity and the Nine Emperor Gods; and 8.lowering the “Tall Lantern Pole” again and offering meat to the heavenly warriors. The results of the research show that there are both similarities and differences among the shrines in terms of the activities involved in this festival. Of the eight rites there is only one where there are major differences – this is the ceremonial ritual entailing crossing a bridge to ward off bad luck, while there are similarities involving the seven other rituals. The similarities and differences found relate to the practitioners, the venues for these rituals and their timing and the rules applying to them, with each of these factors being related to the beliefs of the individual group of Chinese Thais involved.