Loud firecrackers marked the occasion as many people turned out to witness the processions pass by.
The street procession for the Tha Ruea Shrine, located just south of the Heroines Monument, began closer to Phuket Town, near the Mission Hospital Phuket on Thepkrasattri Rd.
The procession, featuring both male men and women mah song, made its way to the shrine at Saphan Hin, where more rituals and ceremonies to honour the Nine Emperor Gods were held.
Arriving at Saphan Hin before the Tha Ruea Shrine procession were devotees and mah song from the Jong Ong Shrine, located in front of Vachira Phuket Hospital on Yaowarat Rd in Phuket Town.
After completing the rituals at Saphan Hin, the mah song and devotees made their way back to their respective shrines.
Today marked the fifth day of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, and the fourth day of street processions. In total eight shrines are to hold their street processions today. Six of those street processions were completed this morning.
The Seng Leng Tong Shrine in Muang Mai will hold its procession at 3pm today, while the Sapam Shrine will hold its street procession at 6:45pm this evening. As usual, expect traffic delays in those areas while the street processions are being held.
The street processions continue tomorrow with the Gim Su Ong Shrine in Baan Don starting their procession at 6:30am.
The Cherng Talay Shrine procession will begin at 7am, as will the procession for the Bang Liao Shrine (Bang Neow Shrine) in Phuket Town.
The Tai Houd Tong Shrine at Surin Beach will hold its street procession at 5:15pm.
For a full list of all the street processions to be held during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, click here.
Meanwhile, the fire-walking rituals for the festival begin at three Chinese shrines across the island tonight, as follows:
- Sam Sian Tong Shrine (Chalong) - 8pm
- Tai Houd Tong Shrine (Surin Beach) - 8:15pm
- Bang Koo Shrine (Koh Kaew) - 8:45pm
Fire walking and ‘bridge crossing’ rituals will continue at more shrines each night through to Monday night (Oct 23), which is the last night of the nine-day festival.
For the full list of locations and times of the fire walking and bridge crossing rituals, see the schedule in the image gallery above, or open the schedule below in a new tab and click to enlarge.
