One of the most famous Phuket festivals is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. This event has been one of the most exciting and talked about events in the Thailand festival calendar. The festival coincides with the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar and is predominantly a Chinese-influenced festival. This year’s event, as always, will take place in the heart of Phuket Town from 15 to 23 October 2023 and will wow its visitors as always.

Phuket Vegetarian Festival Thailand. Thailand Event Guide

Phuket Vegetarian Festival Thailand. Thailand Event Guide

Phuket Vegetarian Famous Thailand Festival

This annual festival takes place during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. It is so famous that worldwide publications, e.g. Maxim and FHM, have featured the event in their magazines more than once. If sacred rituals and gruesome acts of devotion such as fire walking and self-torture are your things, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is right up your alleyway.

 

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, as known as Jia chai in the local Chinese dialect, is Taoist in its roots. People abstain from meat products and other stimulants during the 9 days of the festival. People believe abstinence will bring about good luck and help the devotees obtain good health and peace of mind.

 

Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2020 Details

The street processions are the main feature and focal point of the festival. To the naked eye, the acts of fire walking and self-torture can be pretty graphic yet fascinating. It is common to see devotees of the procession piercing their bodies with all manner of items, sharpened and blunt. Guys with swords sticking through the cheeks on their faces are the norm. Throughout the festival in and around Phuket Town, you will encounter hundreds of vegetarian food stalls with a selection of delectable delights.

The almost electric atmosphere has to be experienced to be believed. Thousands of people converge on the town, creating a vibrant party where the main ingredient is the hustle and bustle.

Fantastic Atmosphere, Amazing Festival

If you are in Phuket from the 13 to the 25th of October, visiting Phuket Town is a must. Many streets are closed to cars and bikes, allowing you the free reign of the town. It will be an atmosphere you have never experienced, so make the most of it if you are lucky enough to visit during this sacred time. Make sure you come along to support the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2023.