Vegetarian Festival 2025 in Phuket

At the end of October, Phuket traditionally transforms: the streets are filled with white and yellow colors, and the air is charged with a sense of wonder – one of the most spectacular events of the year is approaching. From October 21 to 29, 2025, the island will once again immerse itself in the mystical atmosphere of the Vegetarian Festival – a celebration of faith, purification, and inner strength.

We’ve already shared the story of its origins and spiritual meaning in the article “Vegetarian Festival in Phuket”, and here you’ll find the 2025 celebration program. This year’s festival is especially significant – it marks the 200th anniversary of its beginning!

In short: What is the Vegetarian Festival

The Vegetarian Festival in Phuket is one of the island’s most vibrant and extraordinary events. It takes place every year in October (according to the lunar calendar) and lasts for nine days.

The festival is dedicated to the Nine Emperor Gods and is based on an ancient Chinese tradition of purifying the body and spirit through abstaining from meat, alcohol, and other indulgences. During this time, locals – especially Phuket’s Chinese community – strictly follow a vegetarian diet, but the main focus is on rituals of purification and spiritual endurance.

The most famous ceremonies include extreme piercing, where participants (known as “ma song,” or “warriors of the gods”) enter a trance and pierce their bodies with various objects (not for the faint-hearted!), as well as walking on fire and climbing ladders made of blades. It is believed that through pain and these trials, they cleanse not only themselves but the entire city from evil.

During the festival, colorful processions fill the streets of Phuket Town, accompanied by drums, firecrackers, and prayers. It’s bright, loud, and at times shocking – impossible to miss!

Program of the Vegetarian Festival 2025

The main venue of the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket is the Old Town. This is where the key temples are located and the most important rituals take place. The most impressive ceremonies are held at Kathu Shrine, Jui Tui Shrine, Bang Niew Shrine, and Tha Rue Shrine – these are the ones worth visiting.

Processions

The main routes pass through the center of Phuket Town – near the Clock Tower on Phuket Road, Surin Circle, and the Peranakan Museum. These spots are the easiest places to find a good viewing point. Locals who set up offering tables will often let you know when the procession is about to reach their street. The largest processions take place during the final days of the festival.

In the evening, many shrines host spectacular trials — for example, walking on hot coals or climbing a ladder of blades. You can check the schedule of these rituals in the official festival brochure via the provided link.

Schedule of Processions and Rituals for the Vegetarian Festival 2025

Morning Processions

• October 22, 7:30 AM – Jor Soo Kong Naka Shrine (Weekend Market area)
• October 23, 6:30–7:30 AM – Processions start from several shrines: Sapam Shrine (Sapam), Hai Yian Geng Shrine (Mai Khao Beach), Seng Leng Tong Shrine (Muang Mai, Thalang), and Bangkoo Shrine (near British International School).
• October 24, 6:45–8:30 AM – Ceremonies at Samkong Shrine (near Chillva Market), Sam Sian Tong Shrine and Thee Kong Tua Shrine (both in Chalong), Guan Yu Shrine (near the Dolphinarium), Ngore Choon Gend Baanya Shrine and Tai Houd Tong Shrine (Thalang, Surin), Bu Seng Tong Shrine (near Wat Phra Nang Sang).
• October 25, around 6:00–7:15 AM – Morning processions at Bang Jo Shrine, Tae Gun Tai Tae Shrine (both in Bang Tao), Cheng Ong Shrine (opposite Vachira Hospital), and Tha Rua Shrine (at the Heroines Monument).
• October 26, 6:00–7:30 AM – Bang Niew Shrine (Phuket Road) and Cherng Talay Shrine (Bang Tao).
• October 27, 6:30–8:00 AM – Processions from Gim Su Ong Shrine (Ban Don), Jui Tui Shrine (Ranong Rd), and Guan Tae Gun Baan Pon Shrine (Thalang).
• October 28, 6:45 AM–3:15 PM – The most spectacular processions: Kathu Shrine (Kathu), Hai Yian Geng Shrine (Mai Khao), Jong Nghi Tong Shrine (Ton Sai Waterfall), Lee Ong Tong Tha Chatchai Shrine (Sarapin Bridge), and Yok Ke Keng Shrine (Chillva Market).
• October 29, 7:00–8:00 AM – Final processions at Sui Boon Tong Shrine (Lorong Alley) and Bangkoo Shrine (British International School area).

Fire Walking

• October 25, around 8:00 PM – Rituals at Tai Houd Tong Shrine (Surin), Sam Sian Tong Shrine (Chalong), and Bangkoo Shrine (British International School).
• October 26, 8:00–9:30 PM – Ceremonies at Jui Tui Shrine, Tha Rua Shrine, Sui Boon Tong Shrine, Sapam Shrine, Guan Yu Shrine, Jong Nghi Tong Shrine, Yok Ke Keng Shrine, Hai Yian Geng Shrine, Ngore Choon Gend Baanya Shrine, Guan Tae Gun Baan Pon Shrine, and Lee Ong Tong Tha Chatchai Shrine.
• October 27, 9:00 PM – Bu Seng Tong Shrine (Wat Phra Nang Sang).
• October 28, 8:00–9:00 PM – Rituals at Bang Niew Shrine, Samkong Shrine, Jor Soo Kong Naka Shrine, Seng Leng Tong Shrine, Cherng Talay Shrine, Tae Gun Tai Tae Shrine, Cheng Ong Shrine, Gim Su Ong Shrine, and Tai Seng Pud Jor Shrine (Chalong).
• October 29, 3:00 PM – Final fire-walking ceremony at Kathu Shrine (Kathu area).

On the final day of the festival, October 29, all shrines hold farewell ceremonies for the Nine Emperor Gods, accompanied by the Crossing the Bridge ritual and loud firecrackers.

One of the most impressive rituals can be seen on October 29 at 4:00 PM at Bang Niew Shrine – this ceremony is especially solemn there. In other shrines, the bridge-crossing ritual usually begins after sunset. When night falls, the main procession moves through the streets of Old Phuket Town and concludes at Saphan Hin Park.

Getting to the main festival locations is easiest by private transport.

Rules for Participants and Visitors

If you want to observe the festival respectfully:

• Wear white clothing – it symbolizes purity.
• Avoid bright colors, especially black and red.
• Do not eat meat, fish, spicy food, garlic, or onions, and stay sober.
• Women are advised not to visit temples during their menstrual period.
• In temples and processions, do not touch the ma song or their sacred items.
• If you take photos, do so respectfully and from an appropriate distance.

What to Try from the Food

The festival is called “vegetarian” for a reason – during this period, bright yellow stalls appear all over the island offering Chinese and Thai dishes without meat. At the entrance, you’ll see yellow flags with red symbols “เจ” (pronounced “je”), indicating that the place serves exclusively vegetarian food.

“Je” Cuisine (อาหารเจ) – it’s more than just vegetarian food. It is a form of spiritual and physical purification based on the principles of harmony and non-harm toward all living beings, as well as avoiding anything that could disturb inner balance.

Here are the main rules of “je” eating:

• Only plant-based food. Meat, fish, seafood, eggs, and dairy products are completely excluded. During the festival, participants follow a strict plant-based diet, believing it purifies both body and mind.
• Meat substitutes. Instead of animal products, dishes are prepared with tofu, mushrooms, and beans. These ingredients are rich in protein and can imitate the taste and texture of meat while remaining light and healthy.
• Grains and vegetables as the base. Most dishes use rice or noodles combined with vegetables and mild sauces without garlic.

During the festival, be sure to try vegetable dumplings, tofu dishes, and coconut desserts – they perfectly embody the spirit of this celebration of purity and inner harmony.

You can also find vegetarian restaurants in Phuket in our selection.

The Vegetarian Festival is not just a spectacle but a profound spiritual ceremony where faith, extreme practices, and cultural traditions intertwine. For tourists, it’s a wonderful opportunity to witness rituals unlike any others in the world. So if you’re in Phuket – don’t miss it!

You can find other must-visit locations on the island in our website’s collections: Attractions, Excursions, and Temples.