History:

Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival began in 1825, when the Governor of Thalang, Praya Jerm, moved the island’s principal town from Ta Reua in Thalang district to Get Hoe in Kathu district, where were tin mines and Chinese miners. Kathu was then still covered by jungle and fever was rife. It happened that a travelling opera company came from China to perform for the miners.

When the whole company grew sick from an unnamed malady, they kept to a vegetarian diet to honour two of the emperor Gods, Kiew Ong Tai Teh and Ong Sone Teh.

The sickness afflicting the opera troupe then disappeared. This greatly interested the people of Kathu, who asked how it was done. The answer came that ritual vegetarianism with its attendant ceremonies had been the cause, with the result that people embraced the faith enthusiastically. Thus the Festival began: starting the first  evening of the ninth lunar month, it continued until the ninth evening; the aim was to bring good luck to individuals as well as to the community.

The afternoon before the Festival begins, a great pole at each Temple is raised, called the Go Teng pole, with which the Gods are invited to descend.

At midnight the pole is hung with nine lanterns, signalizing the opening of the fest. Two important Gods are also invited down at midnight to preside over ceremonies; these are Yok Ong Hong Tae and Kiew Ong Tai Tae.

Aside from this, there are other ceremonies   throughout the Fest, notably: invocation of the Gods Lam Tao, who keeps track of the living, and Pak Tao, who keeps track of the dead; processions of the Gods’ images; and feast of the Ma Song-like bathing in hot oil, bladed ladder climbing and fire-walking. The festival ends with merit making ceremonies at each Temple and the send-off of the Gods on the last night (when fireworks are at their most impressive