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Fire-Walking Ritual at Bang Koo Shrine
Local culture
Free entry
Medium
▰▰▰▱
Family
Wed, 14 October · from 20:45
Ko Kaeo time (UTC+7)
Bang Koo Shrine
Koh Kaew
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Thailand · Phuket · Ko Kaeo
About the event
In the evening, a path of glowing coals is raked out in the courtyard of Bang Koo 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
Sam Pai Kong (Bang Koo) is over a hundred years old, built by the Chinese of Bangku; the deity's name means “the one who enlightened heaven, earth and water”. 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.