When does the 2024 Vegetarian Festival start?

This year, the Vegetarian Festival starts from 3 to 11 October, totaling 9 days. This is a time when Thai people of Chinese descent gather up to practice a religion and food of long-standing custom. At this time, rituals are held to commemorate ancestors and promote their health by eating vegetarian food that does not contain meat and other living things.

Meaning and the origin of the term “斋” (zhāi)

斋(zhāi / je in Teochew) means ‘To observe religious precepts’ which related to not consuming meat during the festival. It originated in ancient times when the Chinese wanted to defeat the invading enemies by gathering together to keep the precepts by abstaining from meat and purifying their minds. Today, this festival still exists to worship Buddha and the Great Bodhisattva.

The Importance of the Vegetarian Festival

Eating vegetarian food not only improves health but also acts as a merit and abstains from animal abuse. It is an opportunity to adapt both physically and mentally. The Chinese believe that abstaining from meat helps balance the body between yin and yang. Meat is considered “yin” while vegetables and fruits are “yang”.

This period of fasting also reduces stress and health problems. Research has shown that vegetarian food has high nutritional value, helping to detoxify and promote better digestion.

Food that can be eaten and prohibited during the festival

During the Vegetarian Festival, there are several consumption restrictions, including:

Do not eat meat: Includes products containing all meat ingredients.
Do not eat vegetables with strong smells: For example, garlic, onion, and Chive.
Do not drink alcoholic beverages: Alcohol drinks must be avoided.
Do not eat food with extreme flavors: Refrain from strong-tasting foods such as spicy, and salty.
Do not use contaminated containers: Kitchenware that does not mix with normal food can be used.

Foods that can be eaten during the festival include fresh vegetables, fruits, tofu, snacks, and other non-meat foods.

Preparation before the Festival

Before the Vegetarian Festival, many people will start eating vegetarian food earlier to prepare their bodies for the festival. In general, they will start eating food that contains no meat about 1-2 days before the start of the festival. During the festival, you should avoid eating spicy food or unnatural ingredients.

Dietary choices during the Vegetarian Festival should take into account nutrition, such as plant protein like tofu or textured vegetable protein, as well as consuming fruits and vegetables of various colors to obtain a variety of vitamins and minerals.

The Vegetarian Festival is not only about abstaining from meat but also about community gatherings, merit-making, and health care. It is also an opportunity for everyone to consider and change their daily diet. If you have never tried this festival yet, it is a good opportunity to start and experience the feeling of merit and health care. Let’s try to open up to vegetarian food eating in 2024. Try it and you may like it!

References from
sanook / thaipbs / shopee.co.th/blog / thairath