Phuket Vegetarian Festival ends with firecracker-filled deity procession

PHUKET — 18 October 2026, Phuket’s annual Vegetarian Festival entered its final day, with the Lor Rong Shrine holding its traditional Ew Keng street procession, featuring spirit mediums and a spectacular barrage of firecrackers as devotees prepared to bid farewell to the Nine Emperor Gods that night.

The procession set off from Lor Rong Shrine, also known as Shui Boon Tong Shrine, on Phatthana Soi 4 in Phuket Town. Large numbers of male and female spirit mediums joined the parade, while Thai and foreign visitors lined both sides of the streets to watch. Many residents set up offerings and lit firecrackers to welcome the passing deities.

The procession travelled through Phuket Town towards Laem Saphan Hin, where a ceremony was scheduled to return the sacred incense urn to the shrine. The parade featured flags and deity banners, followed by small palanquins carrying various deities, Chinese ceremonial parasols and a larger palanquin carrying the principal deity, Kiu Ong Tai Teh.

As the procession passed roadside offerings, strings of firecrackers erupted across several locations, filling the streets with noise and smoke. Devotees believe the ritual visit by Kiu Ong Tai Teh brings blessings, happiness, prosperity and good fortune to residents and their families.

Spirit mediums also performed traditional acts involving objects such as metal spikes, swords, branches of salak palm and grass-cutting sickles, which were pierced through their cheeks. The rituals drew crowds of spectators, with participants urged to follow officials’ safety instructions.

This year’s Phuket Vegetarian Festival ran from 10 to 18 October. Other traditional ceremonies included bridge-crossing rituals intended to ward off misfortune and firewalking at Kathu Shrine.

From around 22:00 on 18 October, participating shrines were scheduled to hold farewell ceremonies to send Kiu Ong Tai Teh and other deities back to heaven. The main gathering point was expected to be the beach at Laem Saphan Hin in Phuket Town, where crowds were anticipated along the roads amid the festival’s signature firecracker noise and smoke.

According to tradition, shrine lights are switched off and the main gates closed once the farewell procession leaves, symbolising the end of the annual rites. Shrines will perform the ceremony to dismantle the Go Teng poles from 16:00 on 19 October, officially bringing this year’s festival to a close.

The 2027 Phuket Vegetarian Festival is scheduled for 30 September to 8 October.