The surprising Phuket Vegetarian Festival

In Phuket, if there is one marking festival it is certainly the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. A tradition of nearly 200 years that impresses visitors with its very surprising rituals.

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival (or jia chai in chinese dialect Hokkien) takes its origin in the area of Kathu, in 1825, when passing through Phuket to distract minors, a Chinese opera troupe got ill. A strange inexplicable illness. To heal, the troupe followed a vegetarian diet while paying tribute to the gods. Since this miracle of healing, the people of Phuket have developed a belief in vegetarianism and the Vegetarian Festival has continued for 190 years. It takes place every year during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. During the 10 days of the event, it is fashionable to abstain from eating meat to purify his soul and make offerings to the gods.

Especially followed by the Chinese people, this ritual has become a big festival in Phuket, with a religious procession going around the city on the 6th day. People should also be dressed in white, practice abstinence and not drink alcohol during these 10 days.

But what marks the visitors, it is above all the suprising and a little scaring sacred rituals performed by some kind of fakirs known as “Song Ma”. On the rogramme: insertion of all kinds of sharp and pointed objects in the cheeks, barefoot walk on hot coals or climbing ladders with rungs sharp … Not for sensitive people !

This year the festival will take place from 13 to 21 October 2015. Do not hesitate to join the festivities and to go and discover the rites and processions around Chinese temples in Phuket.

For more information about the festival and Phuket :TAT Phuket office – Tel. +66 7 621 1036