Phuket Vegetarian Festival: Thailand 2023!

From the 13th to the 22nd of October, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, also known as The Nine Emperor Gods Festival, unfolded in Thailand. While its name might suggest a peaceful celebration of all things vegetarian, this festival is far from ordinary; it’s a bustling, and, some might say, even audacious event.

Participants of the festival adhere to strict dietary restrictions, abstaining from meat and other indulgences. In a display of devotion, they forgo sexual activity and alcohol, donning pristine white attire to symbolize their purity. Then, the festivities commence, characterized by chants, firecrackers, and extraordinary feats performed by participants. Among the most astonishing sights are individuals walking on nails and even piercing their cheeks with sharp swords. Unquestionably, while watching this festival is one of the most interesting things to do in Krabi, it is best appreciated from a cautious distance, as it’s a whirlwind of fervour and a testament to the extraordinary ways in which culture and faith intertwine in the vibrant tapestry of Thailand’s festivals. You could show solidarity to this display of human determination with a vegetarian diet of your own while staying at properties such as Avani+ Koh Lanta.