The procession comprised devotees and other participants from the Jui Tui Shrine and the Samkong Shrine, both in Phuket Town, and wound its way from Jui Tui Shrine on Ranong Road to the Kiew Tien Keng Shrine at Saphan Hin.
Tourists and residents lined the streets, many armed with firecrackers in hand, ready to set off as the spirit bearers passed in order to welcome their gods and bring merit to themselves.
Ma Song from 9 years old to 60 joined the parade, many with piercings and other forms of self-impairment as a way of receiving any suffering or bad omens from the world instead of the participants.
More than 500 police, officials and volunteers guided the procession and kept traffic safely away from its route through the heart of Phuket Town.
The festivities continued today (Oct 20) at 6:30am, when one of the biggest parades in the festival started at the 200-year-old Kathu Shrine, the first and oldest shrine in Phuket and the birthplace of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival.
The festivities continue with bladed-ladder climbing at Bang Neow and Samkong shrines will kick off at 8pm tonight.