The ceremony took place at the central stage at Saphan Hin on Tuesday night (Oct 22), with Governor Saransak’s wife, Ms Ruedeewan, President of the Phuket Red Cross Society, and Rewat Areerob, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), among those in attendance.
Also joining were Phuket City Mayor Suphot La-ongphet, government officials, private-sector representatives, the Phuket Aam Association (Phuket Chinese Shrine Association), the Aam Network (the national Chinese Shrine Association) and members of the public.
Governor Saransak led the ritual by lighting incense sticks and candles before the chanting began. The ceremony featured royal eulogies and collective blessings, with participants joining in to light candles in honour of His Majesty the King.
This year’s ceremony highlighted cooperation among all sectors, including the Phuket Vegetarian Festival Association, the provincial shrine network, government bodies and local communities, in jointly preserving Phuket’s sacred festival and honouring the monarchy.
Key activities during the day included offerings of silver and gold trays to His Majesty the King, chanting and Hokkien Chinese blessings, and a traditional puppet performance, explained an official report of the event.
Earlier in the day, Governor Saransak and his delegation visited the Tekun (Nabon) Shrine in Wichit, where they paid homage to the shrine’s deities and extended encouragement to volunteers and organisers.
Ms Ruedeewan, in her capacity as President of the Phuket Red Cross Society, joined the visit along with Vice Governor Samawit Suphanphai and Red Cross members. The group praised the cooperation of local residents and the shrine committee in upholding the traditions of Phuket’s Thai-Chinese community, a unique cultural heritage that continues to attract visitors from around the world.
The Tekun Shrine, one of the key shrines participating in this year’s festival, has been filled with worshippers dressed in white coming to pray, meditate and abstain from meat for merit and good fortune.
On Monday (Oct 21), the Governor also led a Red Cross delegation to the Bang Neow Tao Bo Keng Shrine in Phuket Town to promote the practice of vegetarianism and support the shrine’s activities.
The group donated rice and drinking water for use in preparing vegetarian meals for participants and visitors. They later shared a vegetarian lunch with the shrine committee and local residents in a friendly, communal atmosphere.
Prasert Fakthongphon, President of the Phuket-Andaman Shrine Club, briefed the delegation on the history of the shrine and the long-standing Chinese influence that helped shape Phuket’s vegetarian tradition.
Meanwhile, Phuket Vice Governor Adul Chuthong continued the provincial delegation’s outreach yesterday morning (Oct 22) with a visit to the Baan Don Shrine, also known as Kim Sue Ong Shrine, in Thalang.
He was welcomed by shrine committee members and joined in paying respects to the sacred deities before donating rice, vegetable oil and seasonings to assist in meal preparation for devotees and tourists.
Visitors to the shrine were seen offering prayers and collecting vegetarian food to take home, with the atmosphere filled with devotion and goodwill.
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2025 is being held at shrines across the island through to next Wednesday (Oct 29).
Provincial officials have invited residents and tourists alike to take part in the celebrations, make merit, and help preserve one of Phuket’s most cherished cultural traditions while promoting sustainable tourism on the island.