Arriving in Phuket by chance we come across the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, which surprised us more than the island itself for being the weirdest and most beastly festival we had ever seen.
After our spectacular visit to the Khao Yai Natural Park we decided to leave the same day to Phuket. Very kindly, the guide who had accompanied us on the route through the natural park did all the paperwork to buy the ticket to Hua Hin, which is halfway to Phuket.
¿How to go from Khao Yai Natural Park to Phuket?
The ticket cost us 300 Bahts (8€) in a 2 big buses with massages incorporated into the seats. We left at 11 p.m. and arrived at Hua Hin at 5 a.m. Almost without knowing it since we spent the trip sleeping.
From there we bought another bus ticket to Phuket. It left at 8am and arrived at 6pm. After 10 hours of reading, sleeping, chatting and listening to music we arrived at our destination.
Where to stay in Phuket?
We went directly to Oh Oh Hotel, known for being the hotel where one of the scenes from Leonardo Di Caprio’s film The Beach was shot. Specifically the scene where he encounters with a pretty crazy guy who tells him about an idyllic beach and gives him the map.
Apart from that and that was near the festival, the hotel had nothing special and was in a very quiet area of Phuket. Therefore, I recommend staying in any area around Patong, which is the area where the tourist center and the best beaches of Phuket are located.
A few years later I would come back to Phuket to visit all those beautiful beaches, here you have the post about the best beaches in Phuket, in case you want to know them in detail.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival: Tesagan GinJe
In the evening we find a vegetarian festival with the name of Tesagan Gin Je. The street was full of food stalls and overflowing with people. At this festival, we saw some things we were not prepared for:
- We crossed paths with to a Chinese temple with a small courtyard where there was a staircase about 10 meters high. The place was very crowded. Suddenly we saw how one person started to climb up the stairs while everyone watched in amazement.
- When he reached the top everyone began to applaud. At the end of the show we approached to try to understand the reason for so much expectation and so much revelry to climb a ladder.
- As we approached, we realized that each step was a large, sharp blade. A man next to us came with a melon and broke it in two without any effort. The vegetarian festival with self-mutilation included had just begun.
Later we met some Couchsurfings from the area and went for a drink with them. We had a few laughs exchanging cultural opinions and they gave us good advice; like to go out to party you had to go to Patong, to the other end of the city.
Why and when is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival held?
It is said that approximately 150 years ago, a group of Chinese opera traveled to the island of Phuket to entertain the local Chinese community. Virtually everyone in the company fell ill with something. It is thought that of malaria, but it is not known for sure.
What is certain is that to combat the epidemic they followed a strict vegetarian diet and performed religious rites for nine days to purify the body, mind and get rid of the evil that invaded their spirit.
Miraculously, all the members were healed within a few days and fully recovered. From then on, in honor and gratitude to the gods, annual ceremonies began to be held every ninth month of the lunar calendar, becoming more popular and more spectacular every year until they became what they are today. In our calendar, it is celebrated from October 13 to 22.
What is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival?
The next day it was almost all day raining. We couldn’t go to see the beaches and we stayed in the center hanging around. Perhaps it can be said that it was not a lost day because we came across the vegetarian festival again. This time it was a rather curious parade:
Several participants, accompanied by a group of people dressed in white, were walking in trance down the street. Different parts of his body were pierced with knives, katanas and other sharp objects.
They told us that these people in trance were possessed by spirits and did not feel any pain. We didn’t even see a drop of blood. It was a kind of self-mutilation to purify the body.
What to Eat During the Phuket Vegetarian Festival
Although it’s called “vegetarian,” the festival actually follows a strict vegan diet (no animal products or by-products). During the festival days, thousands of street food stalls offer Thai dishes adapted to this tradition, such as Pad Thai Je, vegan dumplings, marinated tofu, grilled vegetable skewers, and curries made without animal-based coconut milk.
All food is labeled with the “เจ” (Je) symbol, indicating it’s suitable for the festival. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, this is one of the best times of the year to visit Thailand and enjoy worry-free dining.
Is It Safe to Attend as a Tourist?
Yes, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is safe for tourists, although it’s important to respect local customs and maintain distance during processions and rituals. You’re not allowed to touch participants in trance, and some scenes can be intense if you’re sensitive to blood or symbolic self-mutilation. Still, it’s a unique chance to witness one of the most powerful spiritual celebrations in Asia.
Is It Worth Planning a Trip to Phuket Just for the Festival?
Absolutely. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is one of the most unique and striking events in Southeast Asia. It also takes place at the beginning of Thailand’s dry season, making it easy to combine with beach time in Patong, Kata, or Karon. If you’re planning a Thailand itinerary in October, combining culture and coastline in Phuket during the festival is a great choice.
Although it may be shocking for some Western travelers, the event is part of the region’s most intense cultural traditions. And if you’re visiting Phuket during this time, don’t forget to book your accommodation in advance, the island gets crowded with both tourists and devoted followers.
Party in Patong, the best party of Phuket
Phuket had surprised us during the day, it was time to see that we were going to meet at night. At night, once everything we had just seen had been assumed, we decided to go out and party.
We followed the advice of our Thai friends and went with them to Patong. And it was crazy. Indispensable for the most party-goers. If they say it’s becoming the new Pattaya, I don’t want to know what that’s going to be like…
Comment, evaluate and/or share if the post about the Phuket vegetarian festival has been useful to you. And, if you are planning to travel to Thailand, you may also be interested in:
- Our list of Travel Tips for Thailand.
- 14-Day Thailand Itinerary: The Most Spectacular Places.
- What to do in Chiang Mai: temples, mountains and thai party.
- The following post and our next destination: the Gulf of Thailand: Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
