Phuket Vegetarian Festival processions to affect traffic from 11 October

Phuket’s nine-day Vegetarian Festival will begin on Friday, 9 October 2026, with major street processions scheduled across the island from Sunday, 11 October. The events are expected to affect traffic in nearly all parts of Phuket, particularly around Phuket Town and shrine communities.

The festival information advises motorists to plan routes in advance and avoid areas where processions are taking place.

Participating Chinese shrines will raise their Go Teng poles on the opening evening to invite the Jade Emperor and the Nine Emperor Gods to descend from the heavens. Devotees will observe strict vegetarian diets and take part in Taoist rituals, processions and other acts of devotion.

The first major processions on 11 October will be led by Guan Yu Shrine in Baan Nabon at 7am, with Baan Pa Khlok listed in the festival schedule, and Jchoor Su Gong Naka Shrine at 7:30am. Other events that day include a 5:30pm village procession from Sam Ong Hoo Cherngtalay Shrine in Ban Kamala and an 8pm hot-water bathing ritual at Yok Kae Geng Shrine.

On Monday, 12 October, processions are scheduled from Bang Koo Shrine at 6:30am; Hai Yian Geng, Hean Lhee Thong and Seng Leng Tong shrines at 7am; and Sapam Shrine at 7:20am. Sam Ong Hoo Cherngtalay Shrine will hold a 5:30pm village procession in Baan Manik and Cherng Talay Soi 1.

Tuesday, 13 October, will feature processions from Thung Thong Shrine, Guan Yu Shrine in Baan Nabon, Ngore Choon Gend Baanya Shrine, Chalong Sam Sian Tong Shrine and Thee Gong Tua Shrine at 7am; Lim Hu Tai Su Shrine at 7:45am; Tai Houd Tong Shrine at 8am; and Bu Seng Tong Shrine at 8:30am. Other events include village processions from Baan Kian Shrine at 4pm and Sam Ong Hoo Cherngtalay Shrine at 5:30pm, as well as hot-water bathing rituals at Lee Ong Tong Tha Chatchai at 7:45pm and Bang Jo Shrine at 8pm.

On Wednesday, 14 October, Baan Tha Rue and Bang Jo shrines will hold processions at 6:09am, followed by Jeng Ong Shrine at 6:30am, Seng Leng Tong Shrine at 7am, Tai Seng Oud Jor Shrine at 7am, Te Khun Tai Te in Pasak at 7:15am and Hok Ong Tong Shrine at 7:45am. Sapam Shrine will hold a village procession at 6:50pm. Fire-walking rituals are scheduled at Tai Houd Tong, Chalong Sam Sian Tong and Jui Tui shrines at 8pm, and at Bang Koo Shrine at 8:45pm.

The schedule for Thursday, 15 October, lists a 6am procession from Bang Niao Shrine, a 7am procession from Sam Ong Hoo Cherngtalay Shrine, a 4:30pm procession from Seng Thum Shrine and a 6pm village procession from Lee Sian Tong Shrine. Fire-walking rituals will take place at Thung Thong Shrine at 7:45pm; Baan Tha Rue, Jeng Ong and Sapam shrines at 8pm; Guan Yu Shrine in Baan Nabon and Jong Nghi Geng Shrine at 8:30pm; Ngore Choon Gend Baanya and Yok Kae Geng shrines at 8:45pm; Sui Boon Tong and Hean Lhee Thong shrines at 9pm; and Hai Yian Geng Shrine at 9:30pm. Bu Seng Tong Shrine will hold a 6pm village procession in Ban Tha Nun, Phang Nga, while Baan Kian Shrine and Tai Seng Oud Jor Shrine will hold hot-water bathing rituals at 7:45pm and 9pm respectively.

On Friday, 16 October, processions are scheduled at Gim Su Ong Shrine at 6:30am, Guan Tae Gun Baan Pon at 7am and Jui Tui Shrine at 8am. Lee Sian Tong Shrine will hold a village procession at 5pm. Seng Thum Shrine will hold a fire-walking ritual at 7pm, and Po Seng Ti Te Kata Phuket will hold a bridge-crossing ritual at 6pm. Hot-water bathing rituals are scheduled at Seng Leng Tong and Sam Ong Hoo Cherngtalay shrines at 8:30pm, with Te Khun Tai Te in Pasak also holding a nail-bridge-climbing ritual.

Saturday, 17 October, will begin with processions from Kathu and Yok Kae Geng shrines at 6:45am, Hai Yian Geng Shrine at 7am and Jong Nghi Geng Shrine at 7:10am. Village processions are scheduled at Lee Ong Tong Tha Chatchai at 3:30pm and Ngore Choon Gend Baanya Shrine at 4:30pm. Fire-walking rituals will take place at Seng Leng Tong Shrine at 4pm; Bang Niao Shrine at 8pm; Lim Hu Tai Su Shrine at 8:15pm; Jchoor Su Gong Naka, Sam Ong Hoo Cherngtalay and Te Khun Tai Te in Pasak at 8:30pm; and Gim Su Ong, Tai Seng Oud Jor and Guan Tae Gun Baan Pon shrines at 9pm.

Bridge-crossing rituals are scheduled at Thung Thong and Baan Kian shrines at 7:45pm, Jui Tui Shrine at 8pm, Bu Seng Tong Shrine at 8:30pm and Giw Aong Tai Tea Shrine at 8:39pm. Hean Lhee Thong Shrine will hold a knife-ladder-climbing ritual at 9pm.

The festival will close on Sunday, 18 October, with processions from Sui Boon Tong Shrine at 7am, Baan Kian Shrine at 7:45am and Bang Koo Shrine at 8am. Kathu Shrine will hold a fire-walking ritual at 3pm.

Bridge-crossing rituals that evening are scheduled at Seng Thum and Sam Sae Joo Hud shrines at 4pm; Bang Niao Shrine at 4pm; Jeng Ong Shrine at 5:30pm; Lim Hu Tai Su Shrine at 5:45pm; Jong Nghi Geng and Te Khun Tai Te in Pasak at 6pm; Tai Houd Tong Shrine at 6pm; Seng Leng Tong Shrine at 6:15pm; Sam Ong Hoo Cherngtalay Shrine at 6:30pm; Sapam, Lee Ong Tong Tha Chatchai and Yok Kae Geng shrines at 7pm; Kathu and Chalong Sam Sian Tong shrines at 7:30pm; Ngore Choon Gend Baanya and Hok Ong Tong shrines at 7:45pm; and Baan Tha Rue, Jchoor Su Gong Naka, Gim Su Ong, Thee Gong Tua, Bang Jo and Hean Lhee Thong shrines at 8pm.

Lee Sian Tong Shrine will hold its bridge-crossing ritual at 8:15pm, followed by Sui Boon Tong Shrine at 8:30pm, Guan Yu Shrine in Baan Nabon at 8:30pm, Tai Seng Oud Jor Shrine at 8:45pm, Guan Tae Gun Baan Pon at 9pm, and Hai Yian Geng and Bang Koo shrines at 9:30pm.

The closing ceremonies will include traditional bridge crossings, processions and late-night firecracker farewell ceremonies as the deities are escorted back to the heavens. The Go Teng poles will then be lowered.