Thais nationwide joins vegetarian festival
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Thais nationwide started celebrating the nine-day Vegetarian Festival on Monday though there were many complaints at the increase in the price of vegetables.
In Bangkok, police suggested people avoid roads surrounding Yaowarat or China Town, where the opening ceremony of the festival is taking place between 2 and 9pm.
Police said one-kilometre of road stretching from near the stage to Chalermburi Intersection would be closed during that time. Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra will preside over the opening ceremony at 2pm.
People are advised to public transport, as parking spaces will be limited. Traffic in the area would be busy round the clock during the festival, which ends next Tuesday.
In Sri Racha, Chon Buri, the celebration is active with most of the shops and restaurants in Sri Racha municipality joining the festival. Shops are decorated with small yellow flags with the word, “Je” (vegetarian) on them.
Many vendors interviewed by the Nation said the prices of ingredients, particularly vegetables, have doubled. However, they said they would not increase the prices of their dishes.
Vendor Nittaya Krasaechon said that she had sold vegetarian food for almost 30 years and this year the prices of the raw materials were up.
“No matter how much the prices rise, I will still sell the dishes the same prices, Bt25-35. This will help me keep my customers during the bad economic situation.”
“No matter how much the prices rise, I will still sell the dishes the same prices, Bt25-35. This will help me keep my customers during the bad economic situation.”
In Uthai Thani province, many vegetarian food shops and vegetable stalls saw an increase in customers. Some shops that usually sell food switched to serving vegetarian dishes. Non-vegetarians also joined the festival.
In Pichit province, Pichit Vegetarian Charity house organised vegan food made by cooks from famous restaurants in the province at the price of Bt20 per dish. Low income individuals wanting to eat were invited to donate what they could afford.
