More than 2,000 spirit mediums join Phuket Vegetarian Festival procession

More than 2,000 spirit mediums took part in the annual Jui Tui Tao Bo Keng Shrine deity procession through Phuket Town on Friday, 16 October 2026, during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival.

The procession, held on the festival’s seventh day, travelled from the shrine towards Saphan Hin and through streets across the town. The mediums, known as ma song, performed rituals including piercing their cheeks and tongues with metal skewers. They also carried miniature Chinese ships, model warships, ceremonial umbrellas and ornate ritual headpieces.

An oil-bathing ritual was also held. According to traditional beliefs, the mediums absorb misfortune on behalf of people observing the vegetarian fast, bringing blessings to their families and the wider community.

Residents and visitors lined the route, with many setting up tables to welcome the deities and lighting firecrackers as the procession passed. A film crew shooting the movie Ma Song accompanied the procession to record the ceremonies and festival atmosphere.

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival runs until Sunday, 18 October. Kathu Shrine, regarded as the birthplace of the festival, is scheduled to hold its deity procession on Saturday, 17 October, departing at 6:45am. Jui Tui Shrine is scheduled to hold its Koey Han bridge-crossing ceremony at 7pm on Friday, a ritual traditionally performed to ward off misfortune.

Police advised residents and tourists to plan journeys in advance, allow extra travel time and follow officers’ instructions, with road closures and heavy traffic expected along procession routes.