Vegetarian Festival 2023 Thailand

Vegetarian Festival, also known as The Nine Emperor Gods Festival, is a Taoist celebration that sees Thailand turn vegan for nine days. The local Chinese community believe that abstinence from meat and other negative stimulants will lead to good health and peace of mind.

It begins on the ninth eve of the ninth month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

Vendors and restaurants all over Thailand switch to selling vegan food and they use yellow flags with red Thai or Chinese characters to signal their participation.

The festival is celebrated mostly in Bangkok’s Chinatown, Yaowarat.

Vegetarian Festival is most celebrated in Phuket and tourists from all over the world travel to Phuket during September / October just to join the event. It is not for the faint-hearted though because the celebration includes acts by devotees to invoke the Gods, such as body piercing and fire walking – all without any anesthetics.

Locations:

• Chon Buri, 13-24 October 2023, at Na Jasa Tai Chue Shrine.
• Hat Yai, 14-23 October 2023, at Supasarn Rangsan Park, Songkhla.
• Prachin Buri, 14-23 October 2023, at Bampen Thammasathan Foundation.
• Phang-nga, 14-23 October 2023, at seven shrines around the province.
• Phak Hai, 15-23 October 2023, at Tai Hong Kong Shrine, Phak Hai District, Ayutthaya.
• Maha Sarakham, 15-23 October 2023, at Khun Wiro Kusolsongkroh Foundation (Eng Tek Tung), Kantharawichai District.
• Korat (“jia-chai”), 15-23 October 2023, at the Thai Chinese Vegan Club and the shrines near the Thao Suranari (Ya Mo) Monument, Nakhon Ratchasima.
• Udon Thani, 15-23 October 2023, at Grand Father-Grand Mother Shrine, Thai Chinese Cultural Centre.
• Phuket, 15-23 October 2023, at 31 shrines around the province (click to see the list of shrines).
• Trang, 15-23 October 2023, at the shrines around Mueang District.
• Ranong, 15-24 October 2023, at the shrines around the province.
• Chumphon, 15-24 October 2023, at Pu Ming Tai Si Buddha Hall.