Due to a warp in space-time – or perhaps a lunar time-keeping hack – the Vegetarian Festival is back, but even the vegetarians seem unimpressed.
Yellow flags were raised today for another nine days of non-meat feasting, but despite the event’s ultrarare reoccurance, food vendors aren’t expecting brisk business.
Workers at several Chinese temples in the capital said they’ve prepared for the festival’s second-coming this year, but others are sitting it out due to an anticipated drop in public enthusiasm, according to state media.
The festival originated with Chinese Thais but is widely observed throughout the kingdom as a time to abstain from eating dead animals, spiritual cleansing and merit-making. Although it normally follows an annual lunar rhythm, the Chinese calendar repeated the ninth lunar month this year for the first time in 182 years.
Missed it this year? Don’t worry, a double-veggie year will sprout again in 2146.
Photo: Watsamon Tri-yasakda
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