Nine Emperor Gods Festival
The Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a large-scale cultural and religious celebration that takes place in the famous touristic seaside old town of Phuket every year during the first 9 days of the ninth lunar month. It is also more commonly known as the Phuket Vegetarian festival.
In the early 19th century, Chinese immigrants arrived in Phuket to work in tin mines and brought with them their unique cultural traditions. For instance, they performed theatrical shows that often mocked human vices.When an epidemic of fever broke out on the island in 1825, the devout Chinese believed it was punishment from the gods for their mockery. To seek the gods’ favor, they decided to perform a “cleansing ritual” by eating only vegetarian food and wearing white as a symbol of purity.
Hence was born the Nine Emperor Gods festival of Phuket..
Usually starting from some of Phuket's oldest Taoist temples with a long procession around town, the headliners of the festival are the "Ma-Song".
Those Spiritual devotees half priest half mediums of all ages perform acts of self-mutilation through piercings slashing and cutting of their body and face.
Taoists believe that during those rituals the spirits of gods descend and temporarily take over the bodies of the Ma Song.
Entering a trance-like state they believe their spiritual sacrifice will give them the power to absorb the suffering and bad luck of others.
That's why Thai people will attend the festival in great numbers and wait eagerly for the processions to pass by their streets in order to receive the blessings of the Ma Songs.