Phuket Police sweep the city clean for Vegetable Festival

Legacy Phuket GazettePublished: 12:49, 17 October 2009| Updated: 12:49, 17 October 2009

160 2 minutes read

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:

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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