This is a video footage of what happened at the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2016, Day Nine …
Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2016, Day Nine Summary
The 9th day (the last of the official ceremonies) of the Vegetarian Festival will take place on Sunday. As the celebrations wind down, Phuket prepares for the final and most important rituals of the festival: the Bridge Crossing and the Farewell Procession. Each one of them holds significant meaning in this Taoist tradition and is as important as the other.
The first of these notable ceremonies is that of the Bridge Crossing ritual. This is when the devotees who have strictly followed the 10 rules of the festival walk across The Bridge of Purification to relieve their misfortunes and impurities that they selflessly invoked upon themselves to ward them away from others and the community. It is said that, if the devotee is truly clean and pure once he crosses the bridge all the misfortune and evil will be released from them, allowing the community, themselves and those around them to have a happy and prosperous year ahead. This ritual will take place at all Phuket major shrines at approximately 18.00 until 20.00. It is one of the most awe-inspiring moment of the Vegetarian Festival and definitely one you don’t want to miss! For those of you who can’t make it to the ceremony, I have attached a video of last years procession so you can see and experience the magic that is the final day.
During the rest of the last day there are a few of the aforementioned rituals taking place, such as Fire Walking at Bang Neow Shrine at 20.00, Samkong Shrine at 20.00 and Cherngtalay Shrine at 20.09. And of course there are still plenty of stalls serving up those delicious vegetarian meals and drinks.
The second major event of the last day is the one and only Street Procession that will be held this year due to the funeral of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. While there are usually several processions during the festival, this one is always the most spiritual as it is the final procession that all shrines march in down to the water and out of Phuket. Each shrine represents one of the Nine Emperor Gods and as the procession sets out, one by one they join until all nine gods are represented. Once the gods are all present, they march through the streets towards Sapam Hin where they will leave Phuket through the nearest body of water.
This procession is by far the largest and most impressive as devotees and spectators alike march through the street with their colorful costumes and body modifications, chanting and banging the drums which help guide the spirits of gods back to heaven where they came from. The atmosphere and spiritual vibes are really something out of this world. If you only get a chance to observe one part of this festival, I strongly suggest you make it this one. It is truly a life changing experience, one you won’t soon forget!
Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2016 Videos:
For more information about this popular Phuket festival you may read our blog article Phuket Vegetarian Festival