Planning to experience the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2025? Here’s your ultimate guide to dates, rituals, and where to catch the real action — from fire walking at Saphan Hin to shrine processions in Old Town. Discover what to wear, what to eat, and where to stay to make the most of this powerful Taoist celebration.
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You’ve probably seen the wild photos — fire walking, face piercings, thunderous firecrackers.
And now you’re wondering: when exactly is it happening? What’s the schedule? And where do I go to see the real action — not just the tourist version?
Let’s break down the full Phuket Vegetarian Festival dates, rituals, and schedule for 2025 — so you can actually plan your trip around the real deal.
📅 Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2025: Key Dates & Schedule
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival runs from Monday, 20 October to Thursday, 30 October 2025.
Each day is loaded with traditional Taoist ceremonies, spirit possession rituals, and street processions.
These events are mainly hosted by local Chinese shrines, especially the big ones like Jui Tui Shrine and Bang Neow Shrine in Phuket Town.
Here’s the updated ritual schedule for 2025:
🔰 Monday, October 20
5:00 PM – Ko Teng Pole Raising at Jui Tui Shrine (start of the festival)
🌀 Thursday, October 23
8:45 PM – Chia Lam Tao-Pak Tao Ceremony (Taoist spiritual invocation ritual)
🔥 Sunday, October 26
8:00 PM – Fire Walking Ceremony (Saphan Hin is the hotspot)
🛕 Monday, October 27
8:00 AM – Iu Keng Procession – Buddha image carried through Phuket Town streets
🍃 Tuesday, October 28
8:00 PM – Koi Han Ceremony – symbolic ritual to drive away bad luck
🌙 Wednesday, October 29
11:45 PM – Sang Kiew Ong Tai Te Ceremony – final sacred ritual with the Nine Emperor Gods
🔚 Thursday, October 30
5:00 PM – Final Ko Teng Pole-Raising Ceremony (closing the portal)
🧠 What’s the Phuket Vegetarian Festival All About?
It’s a Taoist spiritual event rooted in the worship of the Nine Emperor Gods — and it’s big in Phuket’s Chinese-Thai community.
The idea? Spiritual cleansing through abstinence, rituals, and sometimes, painful self-mortification (yep, that’s where the face-piercing comes in).
You’ll see Ma Song mediums (people possessed by the gods) performing intense rituals like fire walking, blade-ladder climbing, and cheek piercing — all while in a trance.
Locals wear white to symbolise purity, and the food stalls go fully vegan.
📍 Best Shrines & Locations to Visit
If you want the full-on, goosebump-inducing experience, base yourself near Phuket Old Town.
These are the shrines where the biggest processions kick off:
- Jui Tui Shrine – the most famous
- Bang Neow Shrine – large and very active
- Sui Boon Tong Shrine – lesser-known but powerful
🔥 Tip: Go early in the morning to catch the pre-dawn rituals.
📸 Bonus: Bring earplugs — the firecrackers are no joke.
🙏 Key Rituals You’ll Witness (Or Want To Avoid)
- Ko Teng Pole Raising – marks the opening of the spiritual portal
- Ma Song Possession – spirit mediums enter trances and perform wild feats
- Fire Walking – barefoot across burning coals
- Piercing Rituals – cheeks, tongues, and faces pierced with all sorts of objects
- Street Processions – with firecrackers, chanting, and symbolic cleansing
- Final Ceremonies – to send the gods back
⚡ What to Wear, Do & Expect (Festival Etiquette)
If you’re attending the Phuket Vegetarian Festival schedule events:
- Wear white – or light-coloured modest clothes
- Avoid meat, alcohol, and sex during the event (if you’re participating)
- Be respectful – this is a sacred spiritual time for locals
- Stay alert – firecrackers and sharp objects are everywhere
Keep your distance when Ma Song mediums are in a trance — they’re not selfie material.
And whatever you do, don’t get in the way of a procession. Let it flow.
🍜 Festival Food = Vegan Heaven
One of the best bits? The food.
All across Phuket Town, you’ll find endless stalls dishing out meat-free, egg-free, and dairy-free eats.
Look for the yellow flags with red Thai script — that means it’s festival-safe.
Some local vegan dishes to try:
- Jay-style Pad Thai (no egg, no fish sauce)
- Mock meats made from soy or mushroom
- Steamed buns, tofu skewers, and coconut desserts
You can even do a street food tour — just make sure it’s aligned with the festival’s vegan rules.
🏨 Where to Stay (Near the Action)
Best areas to stay if you’re planning around the Phuket Vegetarian Festival dates and rituals:
| Area | Vibe | Why Stay Here |
| Phuket Old Town | Traditional | Close to shrines, authentic atmosphere |
| Samkong | Local feel | Easy access to multiple processions |
| Saphan Hin | Watery views | Home of the fire walking ceremony |
Book early — rooms near Jui Tui Shrine fill up fast.
Affiliate tip: Agoda, Booking.com, and Klook often list deals near the main shrines.
🧳 What to Pack
Here’s what you’ll need for Phuket during the vegetarian festival week:
- White clothes (lightweight, breathable)
- Walking shoes (streets get hectic)
- Power bank (you’ll take loads of pics)
- Reusable water bottle
- Ear protection (firecracker chaos is real)
💥 Where to Watch the Processions Without Getting Trampled
Let’s be honest, it can get intense.
The processions aren’t for the faint-hearted — firecrackers exploding at your feet, drums echoing through narrow Phuket Old Town streets, and Ma Song spirit mediums in full trance.
To watch safely:
- Stand on a curb, not the road
- Wear closed shoes — the firecracker scraps burn
- Find corners near Ranong Road, Yaowarat, or Phang Nga Road early in the morning
Pro tip: Bang Neow Shrine’s procession is one of the most raw and dramatic.
📷 Best Photo Spots for Festival Rituals in Phuket
If you’re a photographer or content creator, this is gold.
But don’t be that person with the drone over a spirit medium in trance.
Stick to these respectful angles:
- Jui Tui Shrine entrance at dawn — atmospheric light + white-clad devotees
- Saphan Hin fire walking pit (zoom lens recommended)
- Shrine alleyways — incense smoke + shrine workers
Use natural light, no flash, and always ask if someone looks open to photos.
🛒 Can You Buy Festival Souvenirs or Clothes?
Absolutely — especially near the major shrines.
What’s on offer?
- White festival clothes (cheap and comfy)
- Yellow flags with the red Jay script (symbol of purity)
- Incense, amulets, bracelets for protection or luck
Some shrines sell festival booklets with full schedules in Thai and sometimes English.
Great to keep as a cultural memento.
🥵 Is It Really That Intense? (Yes. But Also No.)
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival can feel overwhelming — the visuals are extreme, the energy is raw.
But it’s not all chaos.
There are quiet moments in the back rooms of Samkong Shrine, or peaceful chants echoing through Sui Boon Tong as the sun sets.
Balance your trip:
- One early morning for a procession
- One night for fire walking
- One full day just eating street food and soaking up shrine life
🧘 Where to Go for Quiet Reflection During the Festival
Need a breather from the madness?
Check out:
- Khao Rang Hill viewpoint for a calm view of the city
- Wat Khao Rang temple — lesser-known, peaceful spot
- Chillva Market at night — still buzzing, but away from the shrine chaos
These spots give you a different perspective — and a break from the crowd.
🧙♂️ Who Are the Ma Song and How Are They Chosen?
Ma Song are the central figures in the festival — the spirit mediums who invite deities into their bodies.
They aren’t priests or monks.
They’re regular people who’ve been ‘called’ to serve — usually through dreams, visions, or serious illness.
During the festival:
- They enter trances at local shrines
- Perform acts of self-mortification like cheek-piercing or blade climbing
- Serve as vessels for the Nine Emperor Gods
They fast for days beforehand — no meat, sex, alcohol, or stimulants.
They’re treated with deep respect — even feared — during the rituals.
🔧 How the Shrines Prepare for the Festival
Each participating shrine — like Jui Tui, Sui Boon Tong, and Lim Hu Tai Su — works for months to prepare.
What goes on behind closed doors:
- Building the firewalking pits and piercing stations
- Creating ceremonial altars and spirit houses
- Prepping offerings: fruit towers, incense, candles, paper money
Volunteers scrub the shrine floors, hang yellow and red festival banners, and set up vegan food kitchens for devotees.
🔄 How to Time Your Visit Around Ceremonies
If you’re travelling to see specific rituals from the Phuket Vegetarian Festival schedule, here’s a sample game plan:
Must-See Day-by-Day Highlights:
- Oct 20 (Day 1) – Ko Teng Pole Raising at 5PM (Jui Tui)
- Oct 23 (Day 4) – Chia Lam Tao-Pak Tao Ceremony at 8:45PM
- Oct 26 (Day 7) – Fire Walking at Saphan Hin (arrive by 7PM)
- Oct 27 (Day 8) – Iu Keng Procession (start 7AM in Old Town)
- Oct 29 (Day 10) – Midnight ceremony at 11:45PM — intense but powerful
Use a shrine map, get a local SIM or eSIM for data, and follow live updates on Thai social media.
🔗 Internal Links for Planning Your Festival Trip
If you’re building a travel plan around the Phuket Vegetarian Festival dates and rituals, check out:
- How to Get Around Phuket: Ride-Hailing Apps Guide
- Phuket Town Vegan Eats
- Quiet Beaches in Phuket for a Break Post-Festival
- 5-Day Itinerary for Active Travellers
- Wellness Spots to Detox After the Festival
All these pair nicely with your Phuket Vegetarian Festival schedule.
❓ FAQs About Phuket Vegetarian Festival Schedule, Dates & Rituals
Is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival safe for tourists?
Yes — just stay aware and don’t get too close during intense rituals.
Can I eat meat during the festival?
If you’re attending casually, yes — but if you’re participating, avoid meat, sex, alcohol, and stimulants.
Where can I see the fire walking ceremony?
Saphan Hin is the main spot on Sunday, October 26 at 8:00 PM.
Is there a full schedule available in English?
Some shrines post updates on Facebook. Ask locals near Jui Tui or check with Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) booths.
Why do people pierce their faces?
It’s part of the Ma Song medium ritual — believed to be a way to absorb pain and cleanse karma.
⏰ What Time Do Rituals Happen During the Festival?
Most ceremonies during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival are based around lunar timing, shrine tradition, and Taoist symbolism.
That means: not always the same time every year, and not always posted clearly.
Here’s how it usually works:
- Morning rituals: Processions start before sunrise — sometimes as early as 4:00 AM
- Daytime activities: Shrines stay active with offerings, chanting, and medium rituals
- Evening rituals: Major events like fire walking, spirit invocations, and ceremonial send-offs start around 8:00 PM
Best move? Ask locals near the Jui Tui Shrine — they always know the real timings.
Every part of the experience is tied to the Phuket Vegetarian Festival dates, rituals & schedule, so plan your days around it to get the most out of the madness.
