The Nine Emperor Gods festival, known in English as the Vegetarian Festival, runs from 10 to 18 October this year. It centres on Phuket Old Town and more than 40 Chinese shrines across the island, and it is the loudest, most extraordinary week of the Phuket calendar.
When to go
Street processions leave the shrines early every morning until 18 October. If you're staying in Bang Tao, Kamala or Nai Yang, allow 40 to 50 minutes to drive into town and aim to arrive before 7am to find a spot along the route.
What to bring
- White clothes if you have them. Devotees wear white and visitors are welcome to join in.
- Earplugs. The firecrackers are genuinely deafening.
- Water and a hat. Processions run for hours in the morning heat.
The food
The gentler way to enjoy the festival is through the food. Stalls flying yellow banners serve vegetarian versions of Thai dishes all week, and Ranong Road in Old Town is the busiest strip. Many restaurants near our Bang Tao and Kamala homes also switch to a vegetarian menu for the nine days.
Be respectful
The festival is a religious observance for Phuket's Thai-Chinese community. Keep a respectful distance from the mediums, don't block the procession, and ask before photographing anyone up close.
