Phuket Vegetarian Festival is one of the biggest festivals that is celebrated widely and annually by the locals all around Phuket. It is also known as “Jia Chai” a Taoist tradition rooted in praying to gods, heroes, and angels. This centuries-old Chinese practice lasts for nine days from the 1st to the 9th night of the waxing moon based on the Chinese Calendar. The Vegetarian Festival was recorded by the Ministry of Culture as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018. Rituals and celebrations during the festivals include street processions, bridge-crossing, fire-walking, and farewell rituals. Let’s explore them with Sawasdee in this blog.
The Street Possession
The procession, which is also known as Lu Keng is a key element of the festival. There are 39 Chinese Shrines around Phuket and the street possession is celebrated by each Chinese Shrines on different days. In front of the houses along the street procession routes, people gather as groups or individuals worship the god by preparing fruits, sweets, teas, light joss sticks, and light candles on the tables decorated with Chinese embroidery clothes.
This street possession allows prayers to receive blessings of the gods processing the spirit mediums. The medium will give string bracelets and fruits. The firecrackers are lit because the loud explosions of firecrackers are believed to scare away negative energies and malevolent spirits that could disrupt the festival’s spiritual purpose.
Bridge-crossing Ritual
It is also a part of Phuket Vegetarian Festivals and it is also called the “Koi Han”. The main reason for devotees crossing the bridges is to cleanse the impurities and misfortunes that may fall upon them. Devotees prepare paper cutouts of themselves with their names and a monetary offering. They also carry a bunch of Chinese chives. After crossing the bridge, a red stamp of the Nine Emperor Gods’ seal will be stamped by the spirit medium on the back of the devotees’ white shirts to signify that they are purified from sins and calamities that might happen to them.
Fire-walking Ritual
Fire Walking or Koi Hoi is performed to purge the negative energy from the body. Fire is believed to overcome impurity and repel evil influence. Locals believe that only those who are spiritually cleansed can walk the fire without suffering severe burns. They also believe that spirits momentarily occupy their bodies throughout the rituals, allowing them to bear the harsh acts without suffering.
The Farewell Ritual
On the evening of the ninth and last day, the festival comes to a close by sending off the Nine Emperor Gods which is also known as “KiuOng” at midnight back to heaven. On that day, every street in Phuket city will be filled with people waiting to send the Gods back to heaven. This ceremony is a must-see, especially at key spots like Thalang Road, Phuket Road, the Clock Tower Roundabout, and the route toward Saphan Hin.
Phuket’s Vegetarian Dishes
You can buy vegetarian dishes at the Old Phuket Town night market every night during the festivals. You will witness the vibrant cultures and culinary excellence of the Phuket people when exploring the various kinds of vegetarian dishes that are hard to distinguish from meat. This is why Phuket earned the title of “Creative City for Gastronomy” by UNESCO which is the first city in ASEAN to receive this prestigious award. In addition to the night market, many well-known restaurants also offer special vegetarian dishes to celebrate the vegetarian festival.
Precision in Every Detail
The street procession will sound intimidating but Phuket is excellent when planning for the festivals. The route for the street procession is already determined by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and there is a schedule for which day will do what. Police and firemen are ready to assist in a safe festival. After the praying and procession, the remaining trash from firecrackers and others is picked up by the city cleaners maintaining the city clean after the festivals.
Overall, visiting Phuket during the festivals will give you different perspectives and experiences. This Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a long-lasting festival that shows the rich culture and heritage of the island. If you have a plan to visit Phuket in the future, don’t forget to contact Sawasdee to make the most out of your visits. We offer many activities from sea trips to jungle adventures providing tailored experiences for each visitor.