If you’ve been in Thailand during October, you’ve probably noticed the bright yellow flags fluttering outside temples, shops and food stalls. They’re hard to miss, waving in the breeze and dotting the streets everywhere you look. Those flags mark one of the country’s most fascinating annual celebrations – the Vegetarian Festival, known locally as Tesagan Gin Jae or the Nine Emperor Gods Festival. It takes place in the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar and for just over a week, whole cities transform into buzzing hubs of devotion, food and festivity.
The festival has deep roots in Thailand’s Chinese-Thai community, especially in Phuket, where Chinese immigrants settled more than two centuries ago. The story goes that an opera troupe of Hokkien Taoists fell ill while performing there. In an effort to heal, they gave up meat and prayed to the Nine Emperor Gods. When they recovered, they continued the ritual each year out of gratitude, and over time this act of faith grew into the huge cultural celebration we see today. What started as a local ceremony blending Taoist beliefs, spiritual cleansing and community devotion has become one of the most colourful and meaningful festivals in Thailand.
Although the way it’s celebrated can vary from place to place, the main idea is the same everywhere – a focus on purification and self-discipline through food and faith. People give up meat, seafood, eggs and dairy, and some even avoid garlic and onions to keep their bodies and minds pure. Temples fill with incense, families visit shrines to pray, and processions spill out onto the streets accompanied by the steady beat of drums and the crack of firecrackers. There’s a real sense of unity during this time, with whole communities coming together to make merit and celebrate. In recent years, the festival has also caught the attention of those interested in plant-based living and sustainability, as it highlights the benefits of a vegan diet for both health and the environment.
Phuket and Bangkok are the best places to experience the festival in full swing. In Phuket, it’s intense and deeply spiritual – you’ll see huge processions, fire-walking, and even ma song, or spirit mediums, performing acts of self-mortification to show their devotion. It can be dramatic to watch, but also deeply moving. Bangkok, on the other hand, has a more relaxed, food-focused atmosphere. The Chinatown area around Yaowarat Road turns into a sea of yellow flags and food stalls selling every kind of vegetarian dish imaginable. Temples open their doors for prayers and blessings, and across the country people dress in white, a symbol of purity. Wherever you are, the mix of faith, colour and energy is unforgettable.
Of course, no Thai festival would be complete without amazing food, and this one takes street food to another level. For nine days, the usual markets and street corners switch to all-vegan menus. You’ll find plant-based versions of classic Thai dishes like stir-fried noodles, spicy soups and crispy fried tofu. There are also festival specials like fried taro, yellow noodles and sweet crispy noodles that you might not see at other times of the year. Even convenience stores like 7-Eleven join in with ready-to-eat vegan meals and snacks marked with the yellow and red jay symbol, showing they’re suitable for the festival.
Beyond the incredible food and the lively street scenes, what makes the Vegetarian Festival so special is the feeling it brings. There’s something grounding about watching early-morning processions or quietly visiting a temple while everyone around you is focused on purity, gratitude and kindness. It’s a time that encourages people to slow down a little, think more mindfully about what they consume and connect with the community around them.
The Vegetarian Festival is so much more than a week without meat. It’s a vibrant celebration of faith, culture and compassion that shows how traditions can evolve yet still hold deep meaning. Whether you find yourself in the thick of Phuket’s processions or simply tasting vegan treats in Bangkok’s Chinatown, you can’t help but be swept up in the energy of it all. It’s one of those experiences that reminds you why travelling in Thailand is so endlessly captivating – full of flavour, spirit and connection.
This blog was written by Fox, Social Media Manager at SINE HQ in Bangkok
