The Chinese gathered not far from our house in the provincial field next to the city pillar for the opening event of this 10 day festival honoring the 9 emperor sons of the Queen of Heaven. There must have been around 700 people who came including small children. All the Chinese shrines were represented from throughout Krabi Province. Participants came in trucks to transport their small ceramic Chinese gods. Most had big drums and cymbals to bang on along the way. Once in Krabi, they gathered at the field, beat on the drums as if competing with each other. At times the noise was deafening! Then in certain areas, mainly woman dressed in special Chinese style costumes, danced in front of their ceramic gods. There was a group of men with whips that marched around looking as if they were in a trance ready to crack the whips at a moment's notice. Before traveling to Krabi city, most had called down the Chinese gods at their local shrines to inhabit them. (Some were no doubt demon possessed.) Then there were the men & woman who pierced themselves with rods through the cheeks, who were constantly being hydrated. They at least got to sit in chairs until the ceremony was over. The mayor & governor of Krabi said a few words praising the tradition of the Vegetarian Festival. Then the parade into the downtown began.
Each group gathered their gods to carry in palanquins on their shoulders. Other people drove the gods on the back of their pick-up trucks. Loud firecrackers were lit often and Chinese dragons were winding their way along the roads among the gods. Supposedly, the gods had come out to bless their believers. Those mediums for the gods were dressed in Chinese clothing with their eyes rolled back in their heads, drooling, and acting crazy. Some adherents routinely used swords, knives, or axes to cut their tongues. Sometimes large wooden blocks were thrown to guarantee good luck to store owners. At some homes/businesses tables were set with paper money, rice, chrysanthemums, pears, apples, pineapples, drink - all for the gods to spiritually eat and bless the people.
Vegetarian food was everywhere - guaranteeing to cleanse the soul according to their belief. On into the evening trucks drove around with people banging drums and singing. On the last night of the festival, the ceramic gods were driven down to the river to go back into Chinese heaven to the sound of firecrackers and fireworks.
Pray for the people who follow these gods to soon come to know their true creator and Savior.
"For more pictures of the festival, click on the link below":
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2105646&id=1419370438&l=487e5048e9
