The Ultimate Traveller's Guide To Thailand's Vegetarian Festival: Dates & Locations For 2025

Every year, when the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar arrives, Thailand erupts in a vivid, spiritual, and deeply communal celebration: the Nine Emperor Gods Festival. Locally, it is known as the Vegetarian Festival or Thetsakan Kin Che. This festival is not simply a food event; it is a nine-day ritual of self-control, purification, devotion, and community, where people commit themselves to abstaining from meat, animal products, alcohol, and negative behaviour. The streets gain new energy with shrines opening, vibrant processions winding through towns, and vegetarian food stalls multiplying, creating a distinctive atmosphere. 

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For 2025, the main event in Phuket is scheduled from October 21 to October 29. It is especially popular across the Chinese-Thai (Peranakan) communities in southern Thailand, intermingling Taoist traditions with local Thai culture. If you are planning to travel to Thailand during late October or desire a cultural experience beyond the beach, this festival is a rich choice.

A recent Instagram clip, shared by @localvegan, captures the festival's essence. The caption explains, "The Nine Emperor Gods Festival... known in Thailand as the Vegetarian or Jay Festival - is one of the most fascinating spiritual food traditions in Asia."

Check out the full video below:

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A post shared by Vlad (วี) | Food & Travel in Asia (@lokalvegan

Origins & Cultural Background

The Nine Emperor Gods Festival's roots lie in the Chinese community of southern Thailand, especially in Phuket. According to official tourism information, the ritual began in the early 1800s when a Chinese opera troupe performing for tin miners in Phuket fell ill with malaria. They chose a strict vegetarian diet, prayed to the Nine Emperor Gods, and subsequently recovered. The local Chinese community then adopted an annual ritual of thanksgiving. Over time, this evolved into the nine-day Vegetarian Festival, combining Taoist practices (worship of the Nine Emperor Gods) with local Thai customs.

Key Rituals & What Happens During The Nine Days

On the first day (sometimes the evening before), shrines raise a tall "Go Teng" pole, which symbolises the gods' arrival. For the next nine days:

• Devotees dress entirely in white and avoid meat, fish sauce, eggs, and dairy. They also refrain from alcohol and aim to keep their thoughts and speech pure.
• They participate in temple ceremonies, including incense, offerings, and chanting.
• On the final day (the "God Farewell Day"), devotees gather in white, statues are returned, and the gods are sent off, sometimes via a symbolic journey to the sea or river.

Vegetarian Feast and Food Culture

One of the most accessible parts of the experience is the food:

• During the festival, you will see yellow flags with the red "เจ" (Thai "jay") outside food stalls and restaurants, indicating that the food is fully vegetarian and prepared according to festival rules.
• Vegetarian cuisine avoids not only animal products (meat, fish sauce, eggs, dairy) but also garlic, strong spices, and onions, which are believed to disturb spiritual clarity.
• Popular dishes include pink noodle soup (using mushrooms instead of pork/blood), fried tofu, spring rolls, taro snacks, and mock-meat versions of chicken or pork made from soy or tofu.
• The food scene is vibrant: streets are lined with stalls and restaurants highlight special menus. It truly becomes a foodie's paradise - vegetarian style - amid the ritual.

Photo Credit: iStock

Travel Guide: How To Make The Most Of The Nine Emperor Gods Festival

Here is your practical guide for attending the festival in 2025.

When & Where

• Dates: October 21 to October 29, 2025, in Phuket.
• Key Locations: In Phuket Town, you will find major shrines like Jui Tui Shrine, Bang Neow Shrine, and Kathu Shrine, as well as plenty of food stalls and street processions.
• While Phuket is the main and most famous venue, other cities such as Bangkok, Hat Yai, and Chiang Mai also host related vegetarian food events.

Getting There & Staying

• Fly into Phuket International Airport (HKT). From there, it is best to stay in or near Phuket Town to be close to the main events.
• Accommodation: Because the festival attracts many visitors, book early. Boutique hotels in the old town area offer proximity to the street rituals.
• Getting Around: Walking is often easiest in the old town. During major processions, streets may be blocked or crowded, so allow extra time.

What To See & Do

Here is a suggested list:

• Visit one of the major shrines (Jui Tui, Bang Neow) early in the festival to witness the pole-raising or initial ceremonies.
• Sample vegetarian street food under the jay flags (เจ) - it is a fun way to experience local culture.
• Attend an evening procession: you will see devotees, god statues being carried, incense, music, and sometimes fire-walking or piercing. It can be intense.
• On the final evening, go to the farewell ceremony: the sending-off of the gods is both festive and deeply symbolic.
• Combine with some downtime: you are in Phuket, so you might enjoy a beach or cultural wander in between rituals.

Also Read: Thailand Pushes For 300 Baht Tourism Tax. What It Could Mean For Indian Travellers

Photo Credit: Unsplash

Do's & Don'ts

Do:

• Cover your shoulders and knees when entering shrines.
• Ask permission before filming rituals, especially body-piercing or trance states.
• Try as many jay (vegetarian) dishes as you can.
• Be patient with crowds and road closures.

Don't:

• Wear loud colours or patterns that might distract in processions (white is generally preferred).
• Eat non-vegetarian food and then wander into a shrine expecting to join rituals-the purification context is taken seriously by locals.
• Stand too close to the route of a major procession or fireworks unless you are comfortable with noise and crowds.
• Assume it is just a food festival-for many locals, it is a deeply spiritual event.

The Vegetarian Festival (Nine Emperor Gods Festival) in Thailand is an experience you will remember for more than its food. While the vegetarian cuisine is delicious and fun, the rituals and the mood make it distinctive.