The Vegetarian Festival in Phuket, Thailand: Abstain from Meat for 10 Days to Pray for Good Luck

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, Reported and Compiled by Li Xinyi

The Vegetarian Festival in Phuket, Thailand runs from today (the 15th) until October 23. Its origins date back about 180 years to Amphoe Kathu, when members of a Chinese opera troupe were traveling through the area and unfortunately fell ill with fever. They practiced fasting as a way to honor the gods, and their ailments subsequently disappeared. As a result, locals came to believe that a vegetarian diet brings good fortune, leading to the annual celebration of the Vegetarian Festival.

It is widely believed that abstaining from meat for 10 days during the festival can purify the mind and soul and bring good luck. The festival is mainly held at Chinese temples. Before the start of the festival, there is a ceremony called Ko Teng Poles, where bamboo lanterns are hung on tree branches and erected at 18 temples across Phuket, symbolizing the presence of the deities. When the bamboo poles are raised on the first day, and the deities are believed to descend into the temples at midnight, it marks the official beginning of the festival.

The highlight of the festival is on the sixth day, when a religious procession takes place in the city, with some parades even featuring face and body piercing performances. Throughout the festival, many locals wear white clothing as a symbol of purity.

● Read More: Fortune-Seeking Rice Vermicelli & Meatball Festival Set to Lure in the Scents of Xinzhu on October 20

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