Inside the Phuket Vegetarian Festival (Credit: Reuters) When you think of Phuket, your mind probably drifts off to the iconic tropical beaches, a vibrant nightlife and island-hopping excursions to fill up your days. But land in Phuket any time over the next week and you'll see a very different side to the island that's almost hauntingly beautiful. That's because, this is the stretch of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival. The Thetsakan Kin Che's roots go back 200 years, rooted in Taoist tradition. It's celebrated during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar with the objective of honouring the Nine Emperor Gods - doing so, is believed to help cleanse the community. Now as the name suggests, all those observing the Festival go on a vegetarian diet; but this isn't just a mere avoidance of meats. The list of exclusions also extend to seafood, eggs, dairy, garlic, onions, alcohol and stimulants. As a matter of fact, even for those not staunchly observing or participating in the festival, non-vegetarian options become sparse. As a matter of fact, restaurants and street stalls fly yellow flags to mark themselves as offering mock meats, noodles, stir-fries and local delicacies. The strict vegan and plant-based diets that most of Phuket tends to follow is referred to as a 'jay' diet. Outtakes from the Phuket Vegetarian Festival (Credit: Laguna Phuket) Now though it's called the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, the dietary restrictions are the least grueling aspect of it. The Festival is accompanied by several ceremonies serving very specific purposes. The Festival officially commences with the Go Teng Pole-Raising ceremony. A sacred pole is erected at major Chinese shrines such as the Jui Tui Shrine, in a bid to invite the Nine Emperor Gods to earth. This year, the ceremony took place on October 9. Also Read: 10 Years of Tombili: Istanbul's Love Letter to its Beloved Stray Cat Stands Crafted in Bronze by a Sidewalk Then comes the role of the Ma Songs, or Spirit Mediums. Entranced mediums perform extreme acts of devotion, and the term 'extreme' here is not mentioned lightly. Self-inflicted facial and body piercing with swords, knives and skewers serve as the foundation of these demonstrations. The rationale is simple - the acts are believed to absorb community misfortune. Then there are the street processions called Iw Keng where devotees march through Phuket Old Town accompanied with a stunning display of firecracker displays and smoke. Finally, demonstrations of spiritual protection take a whole new level of stakes as participants walk barefoot over hot coal and climb ladders of sharp blades. Also Read: Durga Puja 2026: 6 Beautiful Pandals In Kolkata That You Should Not Miss The Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town is considered the primary centre for the daily ceremonies involved with the festival while the Bang Neow Shrine or the Bang Liao, also in Phuket Town, is recognised for major cultural street processions. The Kathu Shrine on the other hand, is considered the historical birthplace of the festival on the island. Finally, the Lor Rong and Sam Kong shrines are where the bladed-ladder climbs and fire-walking rituals occur. The pole raising ceremony for this year was conducted on October 9, while the Festival itself commenced on October 10, set to conclude on October 18. Travel News - Find latest news and tips based on Indian and World travel including top 10 travel destination, tourism information, how to reach visit and more at Times Now. Aalokitaa Basu is a writer and Senior Copy Editor whose work explores the intersection of lifestyle, culture, beauty, wellness, and self-possession. H... View More