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A colourful event held over a ten-day period in late September
to early October, this celebrates the Chinese community's belief
that abstinence from meat and various stimulants during the ninth
lunar month of the Chinese calendar will help them obtain good health
and a peaceful mind.
Though the origins of the festival are unclear, it is thought that
perhaps the festival was bought to Phuket by a wandering Chinese
opera group who fell ill with malaria while performing on the island.
They decided to adhere to a strict vegetarian diet and pray to the
Nine Emperor Gods who would ensure purification of the mind and
body. On recovery, the people celebrated by holding a festival that
was meant to honour the gods as well as express the people's happiness
at surviving what was, in the nineteenth century, a fatal illness.
The festival always falls on the first days of the ninth Chinese
lunar month, and for ten days participants observe the following
commitments:
Cleanliness of the body during the festival
Clean kitchen utensils not to be used by others who do not participate
in the festival
Wear white during the festival
Behave physically and mentally
Avoid eating meat
Avoid sex
Avoid alcohol
People in mourning should not participate
Pregnant women and menstruating women should not attend ceremonies
 One
of the most exciting aspects of the festival is the various, (and
sometimes gruesome) ceremonies which are held to invoke the gods.
Firewalking, body piercing and other acts of self mortification
undertaken by participants acting as mediums of the gods, have become
more spectacular and daring as each year goes by. Men and women
puncture their cheeks with various items including knives, skewers
and other household items. It is believed that the Chinese gods
will protect such persons from harm, and little blood or scarring
results from such mutilation acts. This is definitely not recommended
for the feint hearted to witness.
The ceremonies of the festival take place in the vicinity of the
six Chinese temples scattered throughout Phuket. The main temple
is Jui Tui Shrine not far from the Fresh Market in Phuket Town.
The first event is the raising of the Lantern Pole, an act that
notifies the nine Chinese gods that the festival is about to begin.
The pole is at least ten metres tall and once erected, celebrants
believe that the Hindu god, Shiva, descends bringing spiritual power
to the event.
For the next few days, the local Chinese/Thai community brings
their household gods to the temple, along with offerings of food
and drink. It is assumed that the household gods will benefit from
an annual injection of spiritual energy that fills the temple. Visitors
can observe and even participate in the lighting of joss sticks
and candles that are placed around the various gods.
Usually street processions take place, where visitors can see participants
walking in a trance. Other events include hundreds of local residents
running across a bed of burning coals, or climbing an eight metre
ladder of sharp blades while in trance.
 Apart
from the visual spectacle of this festival, visitors can partake
in specially prepared vegetarian cuisine made available at street
stalls and markets around the island during this time. The vegetarian
dishes are not easily distinguished from regular dishes - soybean
and protein substitute products are used to replace meat in standard
Thai fare and look and taste uncannily like meat. Look for the yellow
flags with red Chinese or Thai characters to find vegetarian food
stalls - and keep your camera handy!!
For more information on dates and events, contact
the Tourism Authority of Thailand at 212 213.
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