Bangkok Post – Phuket shines around the world with two prestigious festival awards

2024 was truly a golden year for Phuket, a historic achievement as the destination proudly won two prestigious awards at the 2024 IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards, hosted by the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States United. The results were announced on the morning of September 30, 2024 (Thai time).

An award that makes the people of Phuket and the entire nation proud is the “World Festival and Event City Award”, demonstrating the readiness of Phuket Province to host world-class events and festivals. Additionally, the ‘Phuket Vegetarian Festival’ received the prestigious ‘Grand Pinnacle’, the highest award given by IFEA, the leading association supporting and enabling festival and event professionals around the world. This award is considered the Oscar of the event industry.

Phuket: IFEA 2024 World City of Festivals and Events

Being recognized as a “World City of Festivals and Events” does not simply mean that a city hosts the most festivals or hosts the most entertaining ones. It signifies a deep appreciation for local traditions and culture, showcasing the city’s distinctive identity, which the festivals gracefully express.

Therefore, it is important to reflect on the early 19th century, when Phuket began to grow in importance thanks to its thriving tin mining industry. This period of prosperity attracted many migrants, transforming Phuket into a key trading port and a rich cultural melting pot. The fusion of traditions is reflected in Sino-European architecture, cuisine and the way of life, beliefs and traditions of the Hokkien Chinese, Thai Buddhists and Malays.

However, a city cannot be considered a festival city where no festivals are held. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a perfect example of this as it beautifully showcases the island’s identity, bringing together diverse traditions, rituals, food and, most importantly, fosters unity among the people of Phuket during nine days of spiritual celebration.

‘Phuket Vegetarian Festival’ wins prestigious ‘Grand Pinnacle’ award.

In addition to Phuket being recognized as the World City of Festivals and Events, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival received the Grand Pinnacle Award on the same stage. IFEA appreciated the festival that meets all specified criteria and requirements, distinguishing itself with its distinct identity.

Although the Vegetarian Festival is celebrated throughout the country from the 1st to the 9th night of the waxing moon in the 9th lunar month, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is distinguished by nine key attractions, making it a one-of-a-kind festival unlike any other in the world.

1. A tradition spanning almost 200 years

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is believed to have originated almost 200 years ago when a traveling Chinese opera troupe from mainland China performed for Chinese Hokkien tin miners in the Kathu district of Phuket. Shortly after arriving there, some members fell ill, which was believed to be due to neglect of “Jia Chai”, or the ritual of vegetarian eating. To atone and honor the Nine Imperial Gods, they abstained from eating meat and alcohol for nine days, from the 1st to the 9th night of the rising moon, to purify their bodies and minds. Miraculously, the troupe recovered from the ritual, and the practice spread throughout the city, passed down from generation to generation, eventually becoming the Phuket Vegetarian Festival known today.

2. Celebration of rituals and traditions

Vegetarian Festival is a time of cleansing the body and mind through rituals and faith. It presents cultural traditions reflecting the beliefs of the people of Phuket, passed down from generation to generation. On the eve of the festival, a traditional Go-Teng pole erection ceremony takes place in Chinese temples, during which nine lanterns burn on the tops for nine days.

This is followed by the “Yew Keng Ceremony”, a street procession in which over 40 shrines carry statues of deities on decorated deity litters throughout the city, blessing them along the way. Residents also set up altars in front of their homes to receive blessings. Last year, more than 37,000 people took part in the procession, and the streets were packed with crowds waiting for its arrival.

During this procession, spirit mediums in traditional costumes act as servants of the deities, piercing their bodies with weapons, knives, swords or needles to bring misfortune to those observing the vegetarian ritual. They also bestow blessings on the devotees for good luck.

The magnificent street procession of over 40 temples, with decorated sedan chairs of deities, spirit mediums performing sacred rituals and 40,000 participants, captures the essence of the island’s unique cultural heritage.

The next ritual is “Koi Hoi”, i.e. the Fire Walking Ceremony, which cleanses the body of negative energy. Devotees cross the bridge, allowing spirit mediums to expel evil forces, ending with the imperial seal embossed on the back of their shirts. This is followed by a farewell ritual during which Kew Ong Tai Tay and the other deities return to heaven. This includes a procession of the deities’ sedans towards the Go-Teng pillars. To mark the occasion, devotees set up altars and lit firecrackers, ending the ceremony.

3. Unite generations, unite hearts

The Vegetarian Festival is the largest celebration of Phuket residents, taking place once a year and lasting up to nine days. This festival brings all generations together to celebrate, collaborate and reconnect with the city.

Three days before the festival, residents and various government and private organizations in Phuket join forces to clean the temples and prepare the halls. During the festival, Phuket residents use their skills and abilities as volunteers. Over 630 people help promote the event, and over 37,700 participants take part in various rituals and processions. This includes over 1,600 volunteers in temple kitchens and over 300 people in city cleaning units.

4. Apart from beaches, Phuket is also a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy

Phuket has been recognized as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, celebrating its unique and diverse culinary heritage and commitment to preserving and promoting local cuisine internationally. During the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, travelers can enjoy local flavors through a variety of vegetarian dishes, including both authentic and fusion styles that combine Chinese, Hokkien, Thai and Malay influences. Chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants prepare innovative vegetarian dishes, transforming traditional ingredients into unique meals that nourish the body and mind.

Throughout the nine days of the festival, Phuket-style vegetarian cuisine will be available across the island, from Michelin-starred restaurants and holiday cuisines to popular street eateries, inviting everyone to take part in the festival and enjoy the unique flavors of Phuket.

5. Ceremonies available to everyone

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is open to all, and over 40 temples across Phuket participate in street processions. Each sanctuary has its own procession routes, which change every day. Procession participants can experience Phuket’s rich cultural heritage as they walk through the vibrant atmosphere of the old town, including charming Sino-Portuguese buildings.

Devotees, residents and guests wishing to join in the ceremony – whether invoking the deities at the beginning or sending out at the end – can gather or place altars along the procession routes. We encourage participation in convenient locations to reduce crowds and traffic.

6. Vegetarian Festival for the Planet

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival lasts nine days. During this time, Phuket town is filled with traces of rituals and ceremonies that require the management to keep the town clean.

When it comes to food and containers, Phuket City recognizes the need for early planning to reduce plastic use and promote eco-friendly materials. This is clearly visible in temple kitchens, where devotees following vegetarian rituals are encouraged to bring their own takeaway containers and provide eco-friendly packaging when necessary. Additionally, those eating at the sanctuary can help the city by serving themselves appropriate portions to minimize food waste. Meanwhile, food and vegetable remains are processed into biofertilizers and animal feed. Guided by the principles of a circular economy and sustainability, Phuket City is focusing on separating organic waste and plastics for proper recycling, benefiting the local agricultural sector, reducing landfill waste and reducing carbon emissions during the festival.

7. Great tradition and a fast restaurant

In addition to managing food waste, the next mission is to restore the city after the festival ends. Throughout the festival, the city is decorated with numerous lanterns, flags and other decorations. To optimize the use of resources, these elements are reused every year.

Furthermore, Phuket City is prioritizing reducing the number of incense sticks and oil bottles, while ensuring that temples use smoke detectors to reduce smoke and minimize harmful air pollution. After the festival, over 300 volunteers work to restore roads and facilities to quickly get them back to normal.

8. Following a vegetarian diet: spiritual and economic benefits besides

the opportunity to cleanse the body and mind by following a vegetarian diet for nine days, participation in the festival benefits the entire city. In 2023, over 650,000 people attended the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, generating 5.75 billion baht for the local economy and creating over 4,500 jobs for Phuket residents as tourism boomed during the festival. As a result, it significantly stimulated the local economy, including the hotel, trade and transport sectors.

9. Phuket: Winner of “World City of Festivals and Events” and “Grand Summit”.

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is an example of a Thai festival that draws on cultural capital, combining traditions, beliefs, food and architecture to showcase a local identity closely tied to the festival. The collective efforts of the Phuket community helped the city win the “World City of Festivals and Events” and “Grand Pinnacle” awards, which it richly deserves. Phuket’s triumph this year in winning two major awards from IFEA demonstrates its potential to leverage its cultural capital through festivals to attract quality tourists, which is in line with its festival economy policy to drive the local economy. Additionally, Phuket is poised to elevate the indigenous Phuket Vegetarian Festival to a flagship event, transforming the city into an international event destination.

Join us in the “World City of Festivals and Events” as we celebrate the Grand Pinnacle Award-winning Phuket Vegetarian Festival and enjoy the traditional “street procession” from Thursday, October 3, 2024 to Friday, October 11, 2024 in Phuket , Thailand.