One of the famous year event of Phuket Island [South of Thailand], is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival (or jia chai in local Hokkien Chinese dialect) during the period of October, 11 to 19, 2007. The ceremonial is during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar.

Schedule for Vegetarian Festival parades 2007 [Date to be confirmed.]

Parade times to be announced, 12 - 18 October 2007
Schedule for street processions of Chinese Shrines
October 12, 2007 : Sapam Shrine
October 13, 2007 : Samkong Shrine
October 14, 2007 : Ban Tha Rve Shrine
October 15, 2007 : Bang Neow Shrine, Cherng Thalay Shrine
October 16, 2007 : Jui Tui Shrine
October 17, 2007 : Kathu Shrine, Yokkekeng Shrine
October 18, 2007 : Sui Boon Tong Shrine

During the 10-day event, participants stick to a strict vegetarian diet which is believed to spiritually cleanse the soul of devotees. Phuket’s annual Vegetarian Festival dates back to 1825 when a touring opera company were struck down with illnesses and only cured of their maladies by a vegetarian diet. The festival has taken place every year ever since beginning on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and continuing until the ninth evening.

The festival marks the start of a period of purification. Those involved come prepared after six days of abstention from meat, alcohol and sex. The stranger ceremonies date back to the mid-19th century when a travelling Chinese opera company fell gravely ill. Fearing that they had let down their Gods, the actors performed self-mutilator rites in an effort to cure themselves. It is also celebrated by devout Chinese all over the world, although the island's five temples are the most famous venues for the strange tradition.

The original ten commitments for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival:

1. Cleanliness of bodies during the Vegetarian Festival Phuket
2. Clean kitchen utensils and to use them separately from other who do not join the festival
3. Wear white during the festival
4. Behave physically and mentally
5. No meat eating
6. No sex
7. No alcoholic drinks
8. People at mourning period should not attend the festival
9. Pregnant ladies should not watch any ritual
10. Ladies with period should not attend the ritual

Getting To Phuket: Period of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival

Phuket is about 800km (500 miles) southwest of Bangkok. It can be reached by air and road from the capital
Air: flying time is about 1 hour 20 minutes on the numerous daily services from Bangkok to Phuket
Road: Highway 4 connects Bangkok to Phuket
Bus: numerous buses leave Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal for Phuket each day. The journey for both car and bus is around 12 hours
Foot: the Phu Jui Tui Shrine is on the Ranong Road, close to the town bus station and market