DUBAI: Thailand began its 10-day vegan festival on Monday as part of the annual Thai-Chinese Vegetarian Festival. For the next week and a half, no meat will be served at Chinese-owned areas and restaurants. The festival is part of celebrations during the 9th Chinese luna month, running from September 26 through October 6. It is a time of purification of the body, by cutting out meat and dairy throughout the period. Already, organizers are reporting a larger number of visitors to the areas, where vegans can enjoy a number of unique options and cuisine during the 10-day festival. However, those seeking to participate completely in the festival's aims must keep in mind that there is to be no sex, no alcohol and no strong-smelling foods like garlic during the period. Vegan dishes can be found all over the city, from food vendors to restaurants all adorned with yellow flags with red font signalling the establishments participation in the festival. CNN reported that “the best way to enjoy all the delicious vegan cuisine is to just walk through the area surrounding Yaowarat Road and sample small dishes at some of the hundreds of temporary stalls.” Thailand is hoping that the annual vegan festival will begin to bring in new tourists who are looking for a place to enjoy vegan food without worrying over what could be in the dish. BM
