Phuket Vegetarian Festival

Chinese Shrines in Phuket Town

There are more than 40 Chinese shrines scattered around the island. Many of them are just small buildings but all participate in the festival. Visitors who want to experience the most of this event should visit the major shrines including the five oldest shrines in Phuket; Put Jaw, Jui Tui, Bang Niew, Cherng Talay, and Kathu Shrine. Alternatively, see the list below.

• Baan Tha Rue Shrine, Thepkrasattri Road, not far from the Heroines’ Monument
• Cherng Thalay Shrine, Sri Soonthorn Road, Thalang District
• Sapam Shrine, Thepkrasattri Road, Koh Kaeo, Phuket Town
• Yok Ke Keng Shrine, Soi Panieng, Samkong, Phuket Town
• Samkong Shrine, Yaowarat Road, on the north side of Phuket Town
• Kathu Shrine, Wichitsongkram Road, Kathu District
• Put Jaw Shrine, On the corner of Soi Phuthorn, Ranong Road, Phuket Town
• Jui Tui Shrine, Soi Phutorn, Ranong Road Soi 4, Phuket Town
• Sui Boon Tong Shrine (aka Lorong Shrine), Pattana Road, Phuket Town
• Bang Neow Shrine, Phuket Road, on the south side of Phuket Town
• Thep Rasi Shrine, Phuket Road, near Robinson Department Store, Phuket town
• Kiew Tien Keng Shrine, Sapanhin Park, Phuket Town

The Commitments

The festival always falls on the first days of the ninth Chinese lunar month, and for nine days participants observe the following commitments:

• Cleanliness of the body during the festival
  
• Clean kitchen utensils not to be used by others who do not participate in the festival
  
• Wear white during the festival
  
• Behave physically and mentally
  
• Avoid eating meat
  
• Avoid sex
  
• Avoid alcohol
  
• People in mourning should not participate
  
• Pregnant women and menstruating women should not attend ceremonies

The Ceremonies

One of the most exciting aspects of the festival is the various, (and sometimes gruesome) ceremonies which are held to invoke the gods. Firewalking, body piercing and other acts of self mortification undertaken by participants acting as mediums of the gods, have become more spectacular and daring as each year goes by. Men and women puncture their cheeks with various items including knives, skewers and other household items. It is believed that the Chinese gods will protect such persons from harm, and little blood or scarring results from such mutilation acts. This is definitely not recommended for the feint hearted to witness.

The ceremonies of the festival take place in the vicinity of the six Chinese temples scattered throughout Phuket. The main temple is Jui Tui Shrine not far from the Fresh Market in Phuket Town. The first event is the raising of the Lantern Pole, an act that notifies the nine Chinese gods that the festival is about to begin. The pole is at least ten metres tall and once erected, celebrants believe that the Hindu god, Shiva, descends bringing spiritual power to the event.

For the next few days, the local Chinese/Thai community brings their household gods to the temple, along with offerings of food and drink. It is assumed that the household gods will benefit from an annual injection of spiritual energy that fills the temple. Visitors can observe and even participate in the lighting of joss sticks and candles that are placed around the various gods.

Usually street processions take place, where visitors can see participants walking in a trance. Other events include hundreds of local residents running across a bed of burning coals, or climbing an eight metre ladder of sharp blades while in trance. Apart from the visual spectacle of this festival, visitors can partake in specially prepared vegetarian cuisine made available at street stalls and markets around the island during this time.

The vegetarian dishes are not easily distinguished from regular dishes - soybean and protein substitute products are used to replace meat in standard Thai fare and look and taste uncannily like meat. Look for the yellow flags with red Chinese or Thai characters to find vegetarian food stalls - and keep your camera handy!! For more information on dates and events, please visit phuketvegetarian.com