Phuket Vegetarian Festival
The Vegetarian Festival is a large-scale celebration that takes place in Phuket every year during the first 9 days of the ninth lunar month. It is also known as the Nine Emperor Gods festival. In 2024, the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket will be held from October 3 to October 11.
History of the festival
In the early 19th century, Chinese immigrants arrived in Phuket to work in tin mines and brought with them their unique cultural traditions. For instance, they performed theatrical shows that often mocked human vices.
When an epidemic of fever broke out on the island in 1825, the devout Chinese believed it was punishment from the gods for their mockery. To seek the gods’ favor, they decided to perform a “cleansing ritual,” which led to the creation of the Nine Emperor Gods festival.
After the festival was held for the first time, the epidemic indeed ended. Since then, locals have believed that this “cleansing ritual” is necessary to receive forgiveness and the blessings of the gods.
Where and how the festival takes place
The most spectacular ceremonies are held in five Phuket’s oldest Taoist temples.
Evil spirits are driven away with drums and firecrackers, so masks to protect from the smoke are more relevant than ever during the Vegetarian Festival.
The headliners of the festival are the “ma-song” — people who have followed a strict vegetarian diet and abstained from many human pleasures. During the 9 days of the Festival, the ma-song offer their bodies to the spirits of the Nine Emperor Gods. They do this to atone for their own sins and the sins of their ancestors.
Like circus performers, they subject their earthly bodies to harsh trials: piercing themselves with metal needles, cutting themselves with knives, pouring hot oil over their skin, walking on burning coals and broken glass, and performing other acts of “self-mortification.” It’s worth noting that becoming a ma-song is voluntary. They claim they feel no pain during the rituals as they enter a trance-like state.
Since these events can be quite shocking, sensitive people may want to avoid the festival processions. However, they don’t occur in tourist areas, but in Kathu and Phuket Town, you can witness the ma-song parades in all their intensity.
During the Vegetarian Festival, food stalls offering a variety of vegetarian dishes will be set up on the streets of Phuket Town leading to the shrines. However, finding meat dishes will be a challenge — most non-vegetarian restaurants in Phuket Town will be closed. These restrictions do not apply to the tourist areas of Phuket.
Schedule of the Vegetarian Festival Processions in 2024
The most exciting events will take place early in the morning in the center of the island near the clock tower on Phuket Road. To witness the extreme rituals of the Ma Song, arrive at the temple one hour before the procession begins.
In 2024, the processions will take place on the following dates:
October 4th
7:30 AM, Jor Soo Kong Naka Shrine (Weekend Market area)
October 5th
6:30 AM, Bangkoo Shrine (British International School area)
7:00 AM, Sapam Shrine (Sapam area), Hai Yian Geng Shrine (Mai Khao Beach), Seng Leng Tong Shrine (Thalang, Muang Mai area)
October 6th
6:45 AM, Samkong Shrine (near Chillva Market)
7:00 AM, Sam Sian Tong Shrine (Chalong area), Thee Kong Tua Shrine (Chalong area)
7:30 AM, Ngore Choon Gend Baanya Shrine (Thalang area)
8:00 AM, Tai Houd Tong Shrine (Surin Beach area)
8:30 AM, Bu Seng Tong Shrine (near Wat Phra Nang Sang)
October 7th
6:09 AM, Bang Jo Shrine (Bangtao area), Tha Rua Shrine (near the Phuket Heroines Monument)
6:30 AM, Cheng Ong Shrine (opposite Vachira Hospital)
7:15 AM, Tae Gun Tai Tae Shrine (Bang Tao area)
October 8th
6:00 AM, Bang Niew Shrine (Phuket Road)
7:30 AM, Cherng Talay Shrine (Bang Tao area)
October 9th
6:30 AM, Gim Su Ong Shrine (Ban Don area)
8:00 AM, Jui Tui Shrine (Ranong Road), Guan Tae Gun Baan Pon Shrine (Thalang area)
October 10th
6:00 AM, Yok Ke Keng Shrine (near Chillva Market)
6:45 AM, Kathu Shrine (Kathu area)
7:00 AM, Guan Yu Shrine (near the dolphinarium)
8:00 AM, Jong Nghi Tong Shrine (near Ton Sai Waterfall)
3:15 PM, Lee Ong Tong Tha Chatchai Shrine (near Sarasin Bridge)
October 11th
7:00 AM, Sui Boon Tong Shrine (in the courtyards of Lorong Alley)
Evening Events Schedule for 2024
In the evenings, temples will host equally fascinating (and eerie) spectacles, such as walking on hot coals, bathing in boiling oil, and climbing a ladder of blades. If you’re up for witnessing these, the 2024 schedule is as follows:
October 7th
8:00 PM, Tai Houd Tong Shrine (Surin Beach area), Sam Sian Tong Shrine (Chalong area)
8:45 PM, Bangkoo Shrine (British International School area)
October 8th
8:00 PM, Jui Tui Shrine (Ranong Road), Tha Rua Shrine (near the Phuket Heroines Monument), Jong Nghi Tong Shrine (near Ton Sai Waterfall), Cheng Ong Shrine (opposite Vachira Hospital)
8:45 PM, Sapam Shrine (Sapam area), Yok Ke Keng Shrine (near Chillva Market), Ngore Choon Gend Baanya Shrine (Thalang area)
9:00 PM, Sui Boon Tong Shrine (in the courtyards of Lorong Alley), Guan Yu Shrine (near the dolphinarium), Guan Tae Gun Baan Pon Shrine (Thalang area)
9:30 PM, Hai Yian Geng Shrine (Mai Khao Beach)
October 9th
8:15 PM, Lee Ong Tong Tha Chatchai Shrine (near Sarasin Bridge)
9:00 PM, Bu Seng Tong Shrine (near Wat Phra Nang Sang)
October 10th
8:00 PM, Bang Niew Shrine (Phuket Road)
8:15 PM, Samkong Shrine (near Chillva Market)
8:30 PM, Jor Soo Kong Naka Shrine (Weekend Market area), Seng Leng Tong Shrine (Thalang, Muang Mai area), Cherng Talay Shrine (Bang Tao area), Tae Gun Tai Tae Shrine (Bang Tao area)
9:00 PM, Gim Su Ong Shrine (Ban Don area), Tai Seng Pud Jor Shrine (Chalong area)
October 11th
3:00 PM, Kathu Shrine (Kathu area)
On October 11th, the final day of the festival, all temples will bid farewell to the Nine Emperor Gods and hold the Bridge Crossing Ceremony, accompanied by firecracker explosions.
The best place to watch the bridge crossing is at Bang Niew Shrine at 4:00 PM or at other temples after sunset.
After dark, the procession will pass through the streets of Old Town, heading towards Kiew Tien Keng Shrine in Saphan Hin Park.
