Street processions from all the main shrines taking part in the festival coursed through the streets of Phuket Town from 9:45pm and terminated at Saphan Hin, where ceremonies were held from 11pm to midnight to call the gods to return to the heavens with the assistance of a grand bonfire.
Prasert Fakthongkol, President of the Phuket Chinese Shrines Association, pointed out that many non-devotees joined the event last night.
“This year the grand farewell and procession had many extra people joining in. The main ceremony last night was not a quiet affair,” Mr Prasert told The Phuket News.
“There were lots of people lot of people on every street in Phuket Town… Many people lit fireworks along the streets, but we had people helping the Phuket City Municipality workers to clean the streets,” he added.
The final ceremonies of the Vegetarian Festival will continue today, Mr Prasert noted.
“The festival will conclude with the lowering of the Go Teng poles at participating shrines at 4pm,” he said.