Vegetarian Festival Analysis

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Street procession that connect participant with Chinese believe has an outstanding dynamic that change the meaning of original purpose of Vegetarian festival. Representation of commoditization of ritual activities among the festival; in this article, ritual activities in Vegetarian festival which happen inside shrine and outside such as the street procession will be an example to examine how commoditization of culture converse to commodity that people can trade between groups. The street procession is conducted on different day in Phuket by every shrine during the festival. This is the most spectacular event of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival or Vegetarian Festival, which became iconic of the festival as a whole. The processions offer an opportunity …show more content…

State-promoted tourism established an economic setting in which cultural forms are readily packaged as market commodities. Local people participate in the tourist industry out of economic necessity and/or political pressure. (Edited by Michel Picard and Robert E. Wood. Tourism, Ethnicity, and the State in Asian and Pacific Societies,1997: University of Hawai’i Press p.218 ) After declined of tin-mining era, state conducted direction of economic development in Phuket province. Turn the tin-mining town to tourism destination. Thai- Chinese born is considered as different group in Thailand who preserve their own identity through architecture and Chinese shrine. State established these component with natural destination in the form of market commodities that promote Phuket to be more profitable province instead of tin. Initial start point was subsidize by local who is Thai- Chinese born. After tourism in Phuket province became popular among Thais and foreigners. Not only sponsor by capitals but also the investment has been pouring into various types of products. Vegetarian festival is a space for many entrepreneurs get benefit from it but advertise their brand through donation products which give to Chinese shrine with logo on it. Cultural tourism that change cultural as commodity which can trade in concrete way. Many private

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