Phuket Police sweep the city clean for Vegetable Festival
PHUKET CITY: Phuket police swept the city last night in a final crime crackdown before the start of the annual Vegetarian Festival that officially starts at midnight tonight.
Officers assembled in front of Phuket City Police Station at 6.30pm before fanning out and setting up police checkpoints at the following spots:
In front of Muang Mai Motors on Thepkrasattri Road;
Soi Phanaeng, off Yaowarat Road in Rassada;
In front of Dowroong Wittaya School, with extra patrols in tambon Wichit;
At Hatchana Niwet Intersection, with extra patrols in tambon Rassada;
Near Koh Kaew junction, with extra patrols in tambon Koh Kaew;
The clampdown led to investigations into 10 cases involving drugs and firearms violations, police said.
“The Vegetarian Festival is about to start and we are expecting huge crowds to gather in Phuket City,” said Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pekad Tantipong.
“Our forces are ready to protect them from danger and assist motorists, because many roads are under repair and this causes traffic problems,” he said.
Although the festival officially starts at midnight tonight, many devotees in the trademark white clothes can be seen on city streets and many restaurants have already switched over to selling only vegetarian fare.
As October is statistically the second rainiest month in Phuket, there is always the threat of rain during the festival.
The seven-day forecast for Phuket by the Thai Meteorological Department calls for scattered showers covering from 20% to 40% of the island throughout the period.
Highlights today feature the raising of the Go Teng poles to welcome the Chinese Warrior Gods at the following places and times:
Kathu Shrine
17.00 Lantern Pole Raising
24.00 Jade Emperor & Nine Emperor Gods Propitiation
Jui Tui Shrine
17.09 Lantern Pole Raising
23.09 Jade Emperor & Nine Emperor Gods Propitiation
Bang Neow Shrine
17.09 Warriors Propitiation & Lantern Pole Raising
22.00 Jade Emperor Propitiation
23.00 Nine Emperor Gods Propitiation at Saphan Hin
Ban Tha Rue Shrine
17.00 Lantern Pole Raising
24.00 Jade Emperor & Nine Emperor Gods Propitiation
Sui Boon Tong Shrine
16.00 Lantern Pole Raising
24.00 Jade Emperor & Nine Emperor Gods Propitiation
Samkong Shrine
17.00 Lantern Pole Raising
24.00 Jade Emperor & Nine Emperor Gods Propitiation
Cherng Thalay Shrine
16.59 Lantern Pole Raising
21.09 Jade Emperor Propitiation
23.59 Nine Emperor Gods Propitiation at Surin Beach
Yokkekeng Shrine
17.00 Lantern Pole Raising
22.30 Jade Emperor Propitiation
24.00 Nine Emperor Gods Propitiation
Sapam Shrine
17.45 Lantern Pole Raising
24.00 Jade Emperor & Nine Emperor Gods Propitiation
Bangkoo Shrine
16.45 Lantern Pole Raising
23.00 Jade Emperor & Nine Emperor Gods Propitiation
Jang Ong Shrine
15.45 Lantern Pole Raising
23.00 Jade Emperor & Nine Emperor Gods Propitiation
Tae Gun Tai Tae Shrine
16.30 Warriors Propitiation & Lantern Pole Raising
23.00 Jade Emperor & Nine Emperor Gods Propitiation
Gim Tsu Ong Shrine
17.20 Warriors Propitiation & Lantern Pole Raising
23.00 and 24.00 Jade Emperor & Nine Emperor Gods Propitiation
Choor Su Gong Naka Shrine
10.09 Lantern Pole Raising
21.09 Jade Emperor & Nine Emperor Gods Propitiation
— Pimwara Choksakulpan
