Thailand’s annual Vegetarian Festival began its preliminary phase

Thailand’s annual Vegetarian Festival began its preliminary phase on Monday, with large crowds in key areas like Yaowarat and Phuket despite a sharp increase in vegetable prices caused by recent floods.

The nine-day festival officially starts on Tuesday, but many started a day early for the traditional “stomach cleansing” ritual, abstaining from meat for merit and preparation. In Bangkok’s Yaowarat, Chinatown, streets were busy with shoppers buying vegetarian food from vendors displaying the customary yellow flags.