The Vegetarian Festival is a traditional Thai celebration held every October, during which a portion of Thailand's population consumes only meat-free dishes for 9 days.

Origins of the Vegetarian Festival

The origins of this festival remain unclear, with several versions of the story.

In 1825, a theatrical troupe from China arrived in Kathu, Thailand. This company, which had come to perform for miners, fell gravely ill. The members then appealed to the gods and began a vegetarian diet to honor them. Their prayers were answered and the troupe was miraculously saved.

Another version tells that the population of Kathu had succumbed to an epidemic disease and that this same theatrical troupe saved them from the illness through invoking the gods (who are actually nine emperors) and the fasting they undertook.

The Course of the Festivities

The festivities begin with the raising of the Lantern Pole, which alerts the nine Chinese gods to the festival's start. The streets become vibrant with color, food stalls set up shop, Chinese opera performances entertain visitors, and everything becomes lively. Firecrackers and music force participants to protect their ears.

During these nine days, participants must observe certain rules:

Bodily cleanliness

Kitchen utensils must be clean and used exclusively by participants

Wearing white clothing

Irreproachable physical and mental behavior

No meat consumption

No sexual relations

No alcohol

People in mourning cannot participate

Pregnant women and menstruating women cannot participate

The festivities continue with ceremonies designed to invoke the gods, with participants acting as intermediaries. They perform remarkable physical acts such as walking on hot coals, piercings, and self-inflicted wounds.

Participants pierce their cheeks with an array of unusual objects—knives, iron rods, umbrellas, skewers, and more.

Visitors can attend and participate in the spectacle by lighting incense sticks, sampling vegetarian cuisine sold at festival stalls, and are welcome to enter the temples. To identify a restaurant serving vegetarian food during the festival is simple: look for an inverted triangle flag with a yellow background and red lettering.

Dates of the 2019 Vegetarian Festival

The 2019 Vegetarian Festival will take place in Phuket from September 29 to October 7, 2019