When the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar arrives, the sound of firecrackers, drums, and the scent of incense smoke drift across Phuket town. This is no ordinary festival. It is a sacred period where Phuket residents and people from all over observe the “Phuket Vegetarian Festival” (Jia Chai), a ritual that connects the human spirit with profound faith.

The Origin and History of the Ritual

The Vegetarian Festival has its roots with the Overseas Chinese who settled in Phuket about two hundred years ago. During the town's tin-mining boom, a Chinese community organized a ceremony to worship the Nine Emperor Gods (Kew Ong I or Jiu Wang Ye) to pray for the end of an epidemic that was spreading across the area.

After the ritual, the deadly disease subsided. People attributed this to the sacred power of the Nine Emperor Gods and began observing the ceremony every year. This developed into a festival of deep faith, blending Chinese culture with the local beliefs of Phuket residents.

How the Ritual is Performed

The ritual begins with the "God Invocation Day." Phuket residents gather at Chinese shrines, such as Jui Tui Shrine, to invite the Nine Emperor Gods to descend and reside during the festival. Following this, for nine days and nine nights, participants enter a period of physical and mental purity.

Key practices of the Vegetarian Festival include:

• Abstaining from all meat consumption for the entire nine days.
• Wearing white attire to symbolize purity and reverence for the deities.
• Observing religious precepts by avoiding impure actions in body, speech, and mind.
• Refraining from alcohol and behaviors that cloud the mind.
• Participating in various ceremonies at the shrines, such as burning incense, joining the street processions to welcome the gods, and offering tributes.

All rituals are performed strictly and serenely to build a connection between the people and the sacred power believed to protect the community. The festival culminates on the "God Farewell Day," where people, dressed in white, gather at the shrine once again to send the Nine Emperor Gods back to the heavens, with a deeper feeling of gratitude and faith.

The Vegetarian Festival… More Than Just Abstaining from Meat

For the people of Phuket, the Vegetarian Festival is not just a change in diet; it is a time for "spiritual cleansing." It’s an opportunity for self-reflection and living with restraint.

Many participants believe that observing the precepts brings peace, blessings, and good health. Some families consider this festival the "sacred time of the year" when everyone can reunite to make merit, participate in the rituals, and worship the deities with pure hearts.

The sound of drums, the scent of incense, and the white attire fluttering in the Phuket night are more than just images of a festival; they are a symbol of faith that has truly endured through time.

All of this shows that the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is not merely about eating vegetables or avoiding meat. It is about awakening faith in the human spirit, connecting people with the sacred, and serving as a bond that has tied the community together for centuries. As the saying goes: “When you participate in the ceremony, you will feel an inner peace and understand why this ritual continues to endure to this day.”

If you want to experience this sense of tranquility, get ready because the 2025 Vegetarian Festival will begin from October 21st to October 29th. It’s a great opportunity to cleanse your spirit for genuine blessings toward the end of the year.