Every year, as the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar draws near, Thailand hosts a magnificent and spiritual celebration, the Nine Emperor Gods Festival. Locally, this nine-day event is called Thetsakan Kin Che, or the Vegetarian Festival, and is primarily observed by the Peranakan Chinese community in Southern Thailand. The festival is not just about not eating meat; it is also about devotion, reflection, and purification.
Nine Emperor Gods Festival In Thailand
The story of the festival begins over 200 years ago during Phuket’s tin-mining era. When a deadly epidemic struck Phuket, the Chinese community looked to the Nine Emperor Gods for protection. As part of their ritual, they prayed for the epidemic to end. Eventually, after the epidemic ended, it became an annual ritual.
Over time, the Nine Emperor Gods Festival evolved by combining Chinese Taoist traditions with regional Thai customs. On God Invocation Day, devotees gather at Chinese shrines, like the Jui Tui Shrine, to formally welcome the Nine Emperor Gods to descend and bless the people. The nine days and nights of self-control and chastity that participants pledge to follow include:
- consuming a plant-based diet instead of meat, dairy, fish sauce, and eggs.
- wearing white to represent respect and purity.
- staying away from disputes or negative conduct, and acting and thinking with integrity.
- honouring the gods by taking part in street processions and temple ceremonies.
On the final day, called God Farewell Day, the Nine Emperor Gods ascend back into the sky.
A Vegetarian Feast
The vegetarian fare is one of the most exciting parts of the festival. Streets across Phuket, Bangkok, Hat Yai, and other cities are lined with colourful food stalls and restaurants, all proudly displaying red and yellow jay flags (เจ), signalling that the dishes are fully vegetarian.
During the festival, you will find a wide variety of Thai and Chinese vegetarian dishes, all prepared without animal products and often without strong spices like garlic or chilli. Some popular dishes include Vegetarian pink noodle soup, Fried tofu, spring rolls, and taro snacks. To make the people don’t miss the usual favourites, mock meats and tofu are used to prepare vegwtarian versions. A lot of stalls also serve full meals that are made entirely of vegetables and plant-based ingredients.
It is an event that celebrates community and faith. Families gather to partake in rituals, earn merit, and eat the vegetarian meal together. It is a holy season for the locals and a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience for tourists.
From October 21 to October 29, the 2025 Nine Emperor Gods Festival promises a special immersion into Thai-Chinese culture.
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/Kirill Kay and Wikimedia Commons/AjarnRichard
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