Some 39 Chinese shrines across the island are taking part in this year’s Phuket Vegetarian Festival, which began on Monday evening (Oct 20), when devotees raised Go Teng poles to invite the Jade Emperor and the Nine Emperor Gods to descend from the heavens.
Today, officially the second day of the annual festival, saw devotees perform the traditional parade of their sacred images along the streets in their communities.
The Naka Shrine procession began with devotees holding a blessing ceremony for the faithful at homes and offices around Phuket Town. The procession then moved toward the tip of Saphan Hin Cape, where participants lit incense and candles as part of a religious ritual.
Male and female spirit mediums pierced their bodies with sharp objects and weapons, symbolising their willingness to endure pain and suffering on behalf of others.
Crowds joined the procession along Phuket Town’s main roads, while many residents set up tables outside their homes to receive the sacred image. Despite the rain, large numbers of Thai and foreign tourists gathered to witness the event.
The walking procession travelled from the shrine along its designated route and back, visiting the faithful to offer blessings. Leading the parade were flags and banners, followed by a small palanquin (Chai Pia) and then a larger one (Tu Lian), which carried the seat of the deity Qiu Ong Tai Te. Villagers along the route prepared altars to receive blessings as the procession passed.
The annual festival will continue for the traditional nine days. Motorists are advised to plan their trips in advance and exercise extra caution near Chinese shrines while the festival is underway.
Street processions will affect traffic in nearly all parts of the island, especially in Phuket Town, where Traffic Police have advised motorists to avoid procession routes while processions are underway.
The final night of festivities will draw to a close on Oct 29, in a blaze of firecrackers and fireworks as the major shrines taking part in the festival hold their final street processions through the heart of Phuket Town.
The Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Phuket) previously estimated the Phuket Vegetarian Festival to generate around B22 billion for the local economy.
This year’s festival will conclude with the lowering of the Go Teng poles on Wednesday (Oct 29). The remaining street processions and rituals to be held for this year’s Phuket Vegetarian Festival are as follows:
THURSDAY ‒ OCT 23
Street Processions:
Sapam Shrine ‒ 7:00am
Hai Yian Geng Shrine ‒ 7:00am
Seng Leng Tong ‒ 7:00am
Bang Koo Shrine ‒ 6:30am
Hean Lhee Thong Shrine (moo baan) ‒ 7:00am
FRIDAY ‒ OCT 24
Street Processions:
Lim Hu Tai Shrine ‒ 6:45am
Guan Yu Shrine (Baan Nabon) at Kata-Karon ‒ 7:00am
Tai Houd Tong Shrine ‒ 8:00am
Bu Seng Tong Shrine ‒ 8:30am
Ngore Choon Gend Baanya Shrine ‒ 7:30am
Sam Sian Tong Shrine ‒ 7:00am
Thee Gong Tua Shrine ‒ 7:00am
SATURDAY ‒ OCT 25
Street Processions:
Baan Tha Rue Shrine ‒ 6:09am
Bangjo Shrine ‒ 6:09am
Sapam Shrine (moo baan) ‒ 6:30pm
Jeng Ong Shrine ‒ 6:30am
Tai Seng Oud Jor Shrine ‒ 6:45am
Tae Gun Tai Tae Shrine ‒ 7:15am
Hok Ong Tong Shrine ‒ 7:45am
Seng Leng Tong (moo baan) ‒ 3:00pm
Lee Sian Tong Shrine ‒ 5:00pm
Fire-Walking Ritual:
Tai Houd Tong Shrine ‒ 8:00pm
Bang Koo Shrine ‒ 8:45pm
Sam Sian Tong Shrine ‒ 8:00pm
SUNDAY ‒ OCT 26
Street Processions:
Bang Niao Shrine ‒ 6:00am
Sam Ong Hoo Cherng Talay Shrine ‒ 7:30am
Seng Thum Shrine ‒ 4:30pm
Fire-Walking Ritual:
Thung Thong Shrine ‒ 7:45pm
Jui Tui Shrine ‒ 8:00pm
Sai Boon Tong Shrine ‒ 9:00pm
Baan Tha Rue Shrine ‒ 8:00pm
Jong Nghi Tong Shrine ‒ 8:00pm
Jeng Ong Shrine ‒ 8:00pm
Yok Kae Geng Shrine ‒ 8:45pm
Ngore Choon Gend Baanya Shrine ‒ 8:45pm
Sapam Shrine ‒ 8:45pm
Guan Yu Shrine (Baan Nabon) ‒ 8:30pm
Guan Tae Gun Baan Pon Shrine ‒ 9:00pm
Hean Lhee Thong Shrine ‒ 9:00pm
Hai Yian Geng Shrine ‒ 9:30pm
Lee Ong Tong Tha Chatchai Shrine ‒ 8:15pm
MONDAY ‒ OCT 27
Street Processions:
Guan Tae Gun Baan Pon Shrine ‒ 8:00am
Gim Su Ong Kang Shrine ‒ 6:30am
Sam Sian Tong Shrine ‒ 5:00pm
Jui Tui Shrine ‒ 8:00am
Lee Sian Tong Shrine ‒ 5:00pm
Bridge Crossing Ritual:
Po Seng Ti Te Kata Phuket ‒ 6:00pm
Fire-Walking Ritual:
Seng Thum Shrine ‒ 7:00pm
Bu Seng Toon Shrine ‒ 9:00pm
TUESDAY ‒ OCT 28
Street Processions:
Kathu Shrine ‒ 6:45am
Guan Yu Shrine ‒ 6:45am
Jong Nghi Tong Shrine ‒ 8:00am
Lee Ong Tong Tha Chatchai Shrine ‒ 3:15pm
Yok Kae Geng Shrine ‒ 7:45am
Hai Yian Geng Shrine ‒ 7:00am
Thung Thong Shrine ‒ 6:45am
Fire Walking Ritual:
Bang Niao Shrine ‒ 8:00pm
Lim Hu Tai Su Shrine ‒ 8:15pm
Jchoor Su Gong Naka Shrine ‒ 8:30pm
Seng Leng Tong Shrine ‒ 8:30pm
Sam Ong Hoo Cherng Talay Shrine ‒ 8:30pm
Tae Gun Tai Tae Shrine ‒ 8:30pm
Gim Su Ong Kang Shrine ‒ 9:00pm
Tai Seng Oud Jor Shrine ‒ 9:00pm
Bridge Crossing Ritual:
Jui Tui Shrine ‒ 8:00pm
Bu Seng Tong Shrine ‒ 8:30pm
Giw Aong Tai Tea Shrine ‒ 8:39pm
Baan Kian Shrine ‒ 7:45pm
Thung Thong Shrine ‒ 7:45pm
WEDNESDAY ‒ OCT 29
Street Processions:
Bang Koo Shrine ‒ 8:00am
Sui Boon Tong Shrine ‒ 7:00am
Baan Kian Shrine ‒ 7:45am
Fire Walking Ritual:
Kathu Shrine ‒ 3:00pm
Bridge Crossing Ritual:
Kathu Shrine ‒ 7:00pm
Bang Niao Shrine ‒ 4:00pm
Lim Hu Tai Su Shrine ‒ 5:45pm
Sui Boon Tong Shrine ‒ 8:30pm
Baan Tha Rue Shrine ‒ 8:00pm
Sapam Shrine ‒ 7:00pm
Guan Yu Shrine ‒ 8:00pm
Jchoor Su Gong Naka Shrine: 8:00pm
Jong Nghi Tong Shrine ‒ 6:00pm
Jeng Ong Shrine ‒ 5:30pm
Lee Ong Tong Tha Chatchai Shrine ‒ 7:15pm
Yok Kae Geng Shrine ‒ 8:00pm
Hai Yian Geng Shrine ‒ 9:30pm
Guan Tae Gun Baan Pon Shrine ‒ 9:00pm
Tai Houd Tong Shrine ‒ 6:00pm
Seng Leng Tong Shrine ‒ 7:00pm
Sam Ong Hoo Cherng Talay Shrine ‒ 6:00pm
Tae Gun Tai Tae Shrine ‒ 6:00pm
Ngore Choon Gend Baanya Shrine ‒ 5:45pm
Gim Su Ong Kang Shrine ‒ 8:00pm
Bang Koo Shrine ‒ 9:30pm
Sam Sian Tong Shrine ‒ 7:30pm
Lee Sian Tong Shrine ‒ 8:15pm
Tai Seng Oud Jor Shrine ‒ 9:00pm
Three Gong Tua Shrine ‒ 8:00pm
Hok Ong Tong Shrine ‒ 7:45pm
Bangjo Shrine ‒ 8:00pm
Hok Ong Tong Shrine ‒ 7:45pm
Hean Lhee Thong Shrine ‒ 8:00pm
Seng Thum Shrine ‒ 4:00pm
Sam Sae Joo Hud Shrine ‒ 4:00pm