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We are in the middle of the Annual Chinese Thai Vegetarian Festival which is celebrated mainly in the south around Phuket Island, Phuket Town, Krabi, Trang, etc.

It is a crazy time of loud firecrackers, daily parades, a time when families gather to pray, eat only vegetarian meals, and wear white for purity. This custom came about after a miraculous healing of a dance troup from China who were visiting Phuket Town. This was during the hey day of the tin minning and they had come to entertain the minners. The troupe all became deathly ill, but upon only eating a diet of vegetarian foods for 9 days they all were healed.

So in rememberance of this and to ward off bad and evil spirits they honour the good protecting gods to keep these ill fated gods away.

Here is a wonderful festive Vegetarian dish using local ingredients.

Vegetarian Stir Fried Pineapple Rice
This delightful vegetarian festive fried rice will please even your most desciminating guests

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art64087.asp

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Mary-Anne Durkee, Thai Food Editor
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