Phuket Vegetarian Festival reaches final day with Saphan Hin farewell planned
The 201st Phuket Vegetarian Festival’s final main procession took place in Phuket Town on Sunday, with farewell ceremonies scheduled at Saphan Hin later that night.
Phuket’s 201st Vegetarian Festival reached its final day on Sunday, 18 October, with the last main morning deity procession moving through Phuket Town before farewell ceremonies at Saphan Hin later that night.
Organised by Sui Bun Tong Shrine, also known as Lo Rong Shrine, the procession drew devotees, Thai residents and international tourists. Male and female ma song spirit mediums took part by piercing their cheeks and tongues with sharp objects, including traditional ritual weapons. According to festival beliefs, the mediums absorb misfortune on behalf of devotees observing the nine-day vegetarian rites.
Residents and businesses along the route set up altars and lit firecrackers as the procession passed. It included flag and banner bearers, smaller palanquins carrying deity images, ceremonial umbrellas and a larger palanquin representing the Nine Emperor Gods, known as Kiu Hong Tai Te.
The main celebrations were scheduled to conclude at Saphan Hin on Sunday night. Processions from participating Chinese shrines were expected to travel through Phuket Town before converging at the waterfront, with farewell rituals due to begin at about 10pm and continue towards midnight.
The ceremonies include the burning of offerings and prayers as the Jade Emperor, known as Yok Hong Song Te, and the Nine Emperor Gods are symbolically sent back to the heavens. Fireworks traditionally mark the climax around midnight. Streets along the procession routes, particularly near the waterfront, were expected to experience traffic disruption.
The festival is due to conclude formally on Monday, 19 October, when participating shrines lower their Go Teng ceremonial poles, which were raised at the start of the festival to invite the deities to descend from the heavens.
