← All events
Fire-Walking Ritual at Bang Liao Shrine
Local culture
Free entry
Crowded
▰▰▰▰
Family
Sat, 17 October · from 20:00
Phuket Town time (UTC+7)
Bang Liao Shrine
Phuket Town
·
Thailand · Phuket · Phuket Town
About the event
In the evening, a path of glowing coals is raked out in the courtyard of Bang Liao Shrine, and the ma song and devotees in white walk across it barefoot. Watch from the edge of the courtyard and keep out of the walkers' way, and ask the shrine staff before taking photos; the time follows TAT's schedule and may shift.
From the editors
Bang Liao (Bang Niew) Tao Bo Keng Shrine has been revered since 1904; local lore says the Chinese opera troupe Kang Chay Hi started the vegetarian rites here. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival (Jia Chai) is the nine-day Taoist festival of the Nine Emperor Gods: those who keep it dress in white, give up meat and hold vows of purification, while 39 shrines across the island hold their own rites. Fire-walking is a rite of purification: “fire overcomes impurity and repels evil influence”, and only those who are cleansed are believed to cross the coals without being seriously burned.