Fire walking at Phuket shrines tonight

PHUKET: Things are really heating up in the 2010 Phuket Vegetarian Festival, with several participating shrines staging their Fire Walking demonstrations this evening and the street procession for Phuket’s most famous Chinese shrine set to take place tomorrow morning.

Fire walking takes place at the following locations and times tonight:

8pm: Jui Tui Shrine, held at Saphan Hin Park

8pm: Yok Ke Keng Shrine (Soi Panieng, Samkong)

8pm: Jang Ong Shrine (near the Rang Hill Road, Mae Luan Road junction)

9pm: Sapam Shrine

9pm: Sui Boon Tong Shrine (Soi Lor Rong, Phuket Town)

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand handbook: “Fire overcomes impurity and repels evil influence. As men purify themselves with fire, they expiate transgressions and thus overcome yin”.

In fire walking only those that are cleansed avoid being seriously burned, it goes on to say.

The Jui Tui Shrine street procession though Phuket Town starts at 8am tomorrow.

Traditionally one of the largest and most interesting processions, it attracts photojournalists from around the world every year.

The route starts at the shrine on Ranong Road and makes its way south to Saphan Hin along the following roads: Krabi Rd, Thalang Rd, Phang Nga Rd, Rassada Rd and Phuket Rd.

The return leg is along Kra Rd, Dilok-Uthit Rd, Montri Rd, and Yaowarat Rd.

The Meteorological Department’s weather forecast for the 24-hour period starting at 4pm today calls for a strong possibility of rain, with scattered thundershowers over 60% of the area and southwesterly winds of up to 40kmh.

— Stephen Michael Fein