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Fire-Walking Ritual at Kathu Shrine
Local culture
Free entry
Crowded
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Family
Sun, 18 October · from 15:00
Kathu time (UTC+7)
Kathu Shrine
Kathu
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Thailand · Phuket · Kathu
About the event
In the afternoon, a path of glowing coals is raked out in the courtyard of Kathu Shrine, and the ma song and devotees in white walk across it barefoot. A daylight fire-walk is rare at a festival where the coals are usually lit after dark. 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
Kathu Shrine is where, by tradition, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival began almost 200 years ago, brought by Chinese who came to work the tin mines. 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.