From piercings to purification: Thailand’s 2026 vegetarian festival
The annual Taoist celebration is held in the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. During the nine-day vegetarian festival – also known as the Nine Emperor Gods festival – worshippers abstain from eating meat, consume only vegetarian food and perform rituals to cleanse body and mind
TL;DR
- The vegetarian festival is an annual event held in southern Thailand, including Trang, Phang Nga, and Phuket.
- Devotees refrain from eating animal products for nine days, coinciding with the celebration of the Nine Emperor Gods.
- Rituals include purification to cleanse the body and soul, giving thanks to Chinese gods and emperors.
- Street processions feature devotees with skewers piercing their cheeks and mouths, carrying shrine palanquins and sedan chairs.
- Festivities include firecrackers, prayers at Chinese shrines, and the release of small birds.
- The Tiger God shrine in Bangkok commemorates the spiritual enlightenment of Tua Lao Eia Kong with processions, Yingge, lion, and dragon dances.