Vegetarian Festival

  • Featured hotelsFeast your eyes: Four Points Phuket spices up October with vibrant veggie festival delights

    Feast your eyes: Four Points Phuket spices up October with vibrant veggie festival delights

    Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort, the award-winning resort nestled just steps from the Andaman Sea, is inviting its hotel guests and discerning local diners to celebrate one of the island’s most vibrant and colourful cultural traditions this October, with a series of special delicacies to mark the Vegetarian Festival! Also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket’s veggie fest: A taste of tradition that’s un-beet-able

    Phuket’s veggie fest: A taste of tradition that’s un-beet-able

    The enchanting atmosphere of Phuket’s iconic Vegetarian Festival has officially started. Yesterday evening, October 2, the ceremonial raising of the Go Teng poles took centre stage at Chinese shrines across the island, heralding a nine-day celebration that promises to captivate both locals and visitors alike. At the heart of the festivities, thousands flocked to the Jui Tui Tao Bokeung Shrine…

  • GuidesCelebrating the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2024: Where to go and what to eat

    Celebrating the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2024: Where to go and what to eat

    The annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival is one of the most popular festivals in Thailand. Also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival or Jay Festival, the celebration takes place on the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. And this year, it falls on October 2 to 11, 2024. During the festival, those who celebrate will observe a strict vegetarian…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket’s roads get a makeover in time for Vegetarian Festival

    Phuket’s roads get a makeover in time for Vegetarian Festival

    Phuket Town is in a race against time to ensure its roads are smooth and festival-ready before the Phuket Vegetarian Festival kicks off next week. The city’s top brass is pulling out all the stops, with Deputy Mayor Suphot La-ongphet leading the charge on a series of urgent road resurfacing projects across key streets. Suphot was spotted inspecting Yaowarat Road…

  • FoodVegetarian Festival 2023: Top 6 restaurants in Bangkok offering special menu

    Vegetarian Festival 2023: Top 6 restaurants in Bangkok offering special menu

    The Vegetarian Festival 2023 is in full swing and Bangkok’s dining scene comes alive with a delectable array of vegetarian and vegan offerings! Also known as the Jay Festival, this annual event is held over nine days in the month of October. This year, it falls from 15 to 24 October. This festival is notable for its unique, and sometimes…

  • South Thailand NewsRain pours on parade: Flooding sours vegetable prices as demand greens up

    Rain pours on parade: Flooding sours vegetable prices as demand greens up

    The recent heavy rainfall and flooding in Central Thailand have led to increased vegetable prices at the fresh market in Betong, Yala, as the supply to the market has been significantly reduced. As the Vegetarian Festival approaches, the demand for vegetables is surmounting, causing prices to surge even more. The prices have doubled for some varieties of vegetables. In the…

  • Business NewsVegetarian festival expected to boost Thai economy with record high spending

    Vegetarian festival expected to boost Thai economy with record high spending

    The annual vegetarian festival, set to take place from October 15 to 23, is predicted to spur a record 10-year high spending of 44.6 billion baht (US$ 1,207,363,478), marking a 5.5% growth compared to the previous year, as revealed by Thanavath Phonvichai, the President of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC). The rise in expected expenditure is…

  • Thailand NewsYala’s sizzling vegetarian fest: A spicy stir of cultures draws tourists like dim sum buffet

    Yala’s sizzling vegetarian fest: A spicy stir of cultures draws tourists like dim sum buffet

    The Yala Vegetarian Festival is now sizzling hot like a stir-fry wok. It kicked off with a spicy city-wide procession circling Betong in southern Thailand, and yellow flags popping up like corn in a kettle. This cultural fusion extravaganza, blending Thai spice with Chinese nice, is attracting more tourists than a dim sum buffet. Today, the festival kicked off at…

  • Phuket NewsThousands join Chinese ceremony at Phuket Vegetarian Festival

    Thousands join Chinese ceremony at Phuket Vegetarian Festival

    Thousands of people yesterday joined a Chinese ceremony as part of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. About 2,200 locals and tourists gathered along the roadside during the Yu Keng parade. The ceremony participants paid respects and lit fireworks to call upon gods, in accordance with traditional Chinese beliefs. Many of the tourists who took part in the ceremony were from Malaysia…

  • Tourism NewsReopening Thailand has a busy activity schedule

    Reopening Thailand has a busy activity schedule

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) took the occasion of the country’s full and unrestricted reopening today as an opportunity to point out a busy event and attraction schedule they hope will bring a variety of people from around the world to the kingdom. From new flight schedules to international political and business meetings to sporting events, exciting new restaurants,…

  • Pattaya NewsFree meals in Pattaya during Vegetarian Festival

    Free meals in Pattaya during Vegetarian Festival

    It’s not just Phuket celebrating the annual Vegetarian Festival, dwellers in Pattaya are also gathering for free vegetarian food. From now until October 5, anyone can eat yummy vegetarian meals for free at the Sawang Boriboon Foundation in the Naklua sub-district of Bang Lamung District. Sawang Boriboon is a Thai-Chinese foundation. It can provide meals for 300 people per seating.…

  • EventsPhuket Vegetarian Festival underway, avoid firecrackers

    Phuket Vegetarian Festival underway, avoid firecrackers

    The Phuket Vegetarian Festival officially kicked off and will last for nine days. The festival launched yesterday with Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul in attendance at the opening ceremony. The ceremony began the festival which will run daily until October 4. Anutin, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister and is considered a potential Bhumjaithai Party candidate for prime…

  • Phuket NewsShrines preparing for Phuket’s upcoming vegetarian festival

    Shrines preparing for Phuket’s upcoming vegetarian festival

    Phuket‘s annual vegetarian festival is right around the corner, coming up on September 26 to October 4. Now, city workers and volunteers are helping Chinese shrines prepare for the festival. Yesterday, teams helped scrub the forecourts of the main shrines participating in the celebration, including the Pud Jor and Jui Tui shrines in the main city district. Phuket’s Vice Governor…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Vegetarian Festival kicks off, poles raised to call spirits down from the heavens

    Phuket Vegetarian Festival kicks off, poles raised to call spirits down from the heavens

    The famous Phuket Vegetarian Festival kicked off yesterday, with its traditional ceremony to welcome spirits to descend from the heavens, but under Covid-19 restrictions. Go Teng poles were raised at participating shrines as a call for the Jade Emperor and Nine Emperor Gods to come down to earth. During the festival, some will practice self-mutilation, such as tongue slicing or…

  • Hot NewsPhuket’s Vegetarian Festival schedule 2021

    Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival schedule 2021

    Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival, also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, has arrived. Spanning 10 days from October 5 to the 15, the festival is iconic for those who like exotic and very, very unique cultural events. It’s a commemoration that invites ancient Chinese spirts to come down from the heavens to witness almost 8 days of fire walking, noisy…

  • Tourism NewsPhuket’s Vegetarian Festival kicks off this week

    Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival kicks off this week

    Get out your protective eye-wear and ear muffs. It’s THAT time of the year on Thailand’s southern island. Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival kicks off next week, but under the remaining Covid restrictions that limit the size of crowds, etc, etc on the island. The Vegetarian Festival, aka. Nine Emperor Gods Festival, is an annual commemoration inviting ancient Chinese spirits to come…

  • Phuket NewsGovernor announces restrictions on Phuket Vegetarian Festival

    Governor announces restrictions on Phuket Vegetarian Festival

    The Phuket Vegetarian Festival will be scaled down and under tight restrictions this year to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The weeklong festival, where some practice self-mutilation to connect with the spirit world, draws tourists from across the country, and the world. The Phuket governor announced that this year’s festival from October 5 to 15 will have restrictions on the…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket’s annual Vegetarian Festival lowers flags, spirits return to the heavens

    Phuket’s annual Vegetarian Festival lowers flags, spirits return to the heavens

    WARNING! Content below contains photos of self-mutilation that some may find disturbing. The flags on Go Teng poles were lowered on Monday, ending Phuket’s annual Vegetarian Festival and symbolising that the spirits have returned the heavens. The flags are raised at the start of the festivities each year at participating shrines, calling on the spirits to descend from the heavens.…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | State of Emergency, Pattaya ‘online’, Veggie Festival plea | October 15

    Thailand News Today | State of Emergency, Pattaya ‘online’, Veggie Festival plea | October 15

    Bangkok in State of Emergency, protesters arrested, “vow to fight on” Bangkok is now in a State of Emergency. The new decree was imposed at 4am in an effort by the Thai government to quell the growing support of the latest protest movement. The “State of Emergency” places a ban on gatherings of any more than 5 people. The early…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket’s annual Vegetarian Festival expected to draw in 350 million baht

    Phuket’s annual Vegetarian Festival expected to draw in 350 million baht

    WARNING: Graphic photos and video below. After months and months of an economic slowdown induced by the coronavirus pandemic and the lack of tourists, thousands of people are expected to arrive to Phuket over the next 2 weeks to take part in the annual Vegetarian Festival. It’s expected to generate more than 350 million baht, according to the Tourism Authority…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Army v Twitter, Tourism interrupted, Thailand World’s #6 | October 9

    Thailand News Today | Army v Twitter, Tourism interrupted, Thailand World’s #6 | October 9

    Clerk calls out Thai Army for alleged corruption An army clerk is calling out the Thai Army for alleged corruption, saying he was forced to withdraw money under his name which was then falsely documented as a travel expense. The clerk at the army’s Ordnance Material Rebuild Centre posted photos of documents on Facebook, showing the withdrawal listed as a…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Airport to see surge in domestic passengers during Vegetarian Festival

    Phuket Airport to see surge in domestic passengers during Vegetarian Festival

    The director of Phuket Airport says at least 15,000 domestic passengers per day are expected during the upcoming Vegetarian Festival. Thani Chuangchu says the event, which runs from October 16 to 25, will see an increase in domestic traffic at the airport, which normally receives around 13,000 domestic travellers per day during holidays and long weekends. During the week, Phuket…

  • Visa InformationSpecial Tourist Visa flight postponed, National Security Council confirms

    Special Tourist Visa flight postponed, National Security Council confirms

    After much confusion about when the group of Chinese tourists will arrive in Phuket, the secretary general of Thailand’s National Security Council confirmed that today’s flight has been deferred to October 25. Officials decided to postpone the flight and reschedule it after Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival is finished. The annual spectacle is known to draw large crowds. The council’s secretary general…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Poll-Keep borders closed, quarantine exemption, heavy rain | October 7

    Thailand News Today | Poll-Keep borders closed, quarantine exemption, heavy rain | October 7

    Today’s Thailand News Today with Tim Newton… Zoos to be investigated for possible involvement in black market animal trade Zoos across Thailand will be investigated for possible involvement in the black market wildlife trade. The probe follows a case where 2 rare albino barking deer went missing at Songkhla Zoo and a top zoo official investigating the disappearance was shot and…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket’s annual vegetarian festival. Put it in your diary – VIDEO

    Phuket’s annual vegetarian festival. Put it in your diary – VIDEO

    WARNING: The content below contains photos and videos of self-mutilation that some people may find disturbing. Phuket’s annual vegetarian festival is on this month. Officials say they are asking participants to strictly observe social distancing. Good luck with that! For those who don’t know, despite its name, the festival isn’t exactly known for the vegetarian food. It’s better known, even infamous,…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket seeks to revive tourism with 3 major events planned

    Phuket seeks to revive tourism with 3 major events planned

    Phuket is planning a series of promotional events in an effort to revive tourism in the hard-hit province. With tourism accounting for 80% of the economy, Phuket is arguably one of the most highly-impacted areas in the country after the economic fallout of the Covid pandemic struck. The Minister of Commerce, Jurin Laksanawisit, is overseeing the staging of 3 major…

  • EventsLast night of Phuket vegetarian festival was a blast – VIDEO

    Last night of Phuket vegetarian festival was a blast – VIDEO

    Last night (October 7), Phuket local shrines gathered for the final day parades of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, which took place from September 29 to October 7. Almost all of the Chinese shrines in Phuket had their Mah Song walking around the city with members of the shrine holding palanquins adorned with Chinese gods for blessing people lining the streets…

  • EventsMah Songs parade through Phuket Town exciting tourists and locals

    Mah Songs parade through Phuket Town exciting tourists and locals

    PHOTOS: Phuket Hot News Today, the Sapam and Bangku Shrines started their Mah Song parade, also known as ‘Lew Geng’ around the the main city of Phuket, in Phuket Town on the island’s east coast. The parades in the annual vegetarian festival are are feature of the 10 day event and attract thousands of tourists to the island in increasing…

  • EventsOPINION: Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival is now for the tourists, not the locals

    OPINION: Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival is now for the tourists, not the locals

    OPINION: Pruth Kulprasit Phuket’s vegetarian Festival is an annual event steeped in ancient Chinese mysticism and fused with local island traditions and Buddhism. It’s a cacophony of noise, spiritualism, body piercing and rather bland vegetarian food. For the tourist or expat that witnesses the parades, fire-walking and ceremonies for the first time it’s a shock to the senses.For local Thai-Chinese,…

  • EventsPhuket Vegetarian Festival events 2019 – schedule and history

    Phuket Vegetarian Festival events 2019 – schedule and history

    The annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival, aka. ‘Nine Emperor Gods Festival’, always runs during the ninth lunar month. For expats and tourist ‘newbies’ the Vegetarian Festival is a lot to do with parades, firecrackers, bizarre ceremonies and spiritual mystiques piecing themselves, and little to do with vegetarian food. Whilst we’ve tried to provide a program here, any time schedule at individual…